The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that at least 25 members of President Bashar Al-Assad's Alawite sect were killed by terrorists in the village of Maan on February 9.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon later expressed "great shock" at the killings and demanded that "perpetrators of this massacre" be brought to justice.

SANA, quoting a military source, said "army units have established total control over Maan, after crushing the terrorists who had infiltrated (the village) and committed a massacre against its civilian residents, killing dozens of them, including women."

State television also reported the army's recapture of Maan but gave a higher death toll, saying 42 civilians had been killed by "terrorists".

The Observatory -- which had reported 14 women among the dead -- said Maan was retaken after army’s strong fighting.

The monitoring group, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground, meanwhile reported renewed army’s attack on terrorist groups’ bastions within the central city of Homs on Monday for the second day running.

The United Nations and Syria's Red Crescent evacuated last week some 1,400 who had been trapped inside militants-held areas besieged by the army for more than 18 months.

The operation was made possible by a deal that included a ceasefire.

But it was suspended after clashes erupted on Sunday with the militants.

NJF/NJF