TEMPO Interactive, New York:The United Nations warned that violence in Syria was expanding and worsening after the government troops stepped up attacks on the civilian residential areas and on the armed gangs. "The Secretary General paid deep attention to the increasingly dangerous intense attacks in Syria over the last few days. A number of civilians became victims of the attacks," says the statement of Ban Ki-moon's office to reporters. "The bloodshed and the war should be stopped immediately." US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland expressed her fear that the Syrian government planned a "massacre" on the areas of the opposition groups in Haffeh near Turkey. She said Washington got information from Annan that bomb attacks, helicopters and tanks had been used on Haffeh. The government troops had also bombarded the Town of Homs Monday, June 11, 2012. "We say it now that we are able to stop this potential massacre," said Nuland. AL JAZEERA | CHOIRUL