Ban Urges Assad 'to Stop Killing People'
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime "to stop killing people," as pressure mounted on Damascus over its widening crackdown in the north.
Ban, who was in Brazil as part of a Latin America tour in support of his bid for re-election as secretary-general, told reporters Assad should "engage in an inclusive dialogue" and "take bold... measures before it is too late."
The comments were the strongest yet from the U.N. head, and came as Western members of the Security Council were struggling to push through a resolution to condemn Syria's attacks on civilian protesters.
The United States, Britain and France are pushing for the measure, but Russia and China are resisting.
Brazil, which has a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, is also against a condemnation, but is willing to vote for a resolution taking note of the parlous situation in Syria.
Ban said he was seeking a coherent U.N. position on the matter.
On Wednesday, in Uruguay, he stressed that Assad had to implement reforms called for by Syrian protesters "before it is too late," adding that he was "deeply concerned about the situation in Syria."
More than 1,200 people have died and some 10,000 have been detained in Syria since the mid-March eruption of pro-democracy protests inspired by the uprisings that toppled long-standing rulers in Egypt and Tunisia.
A fierce military assault centered on the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughur has sent refugees streaming out of Syria, with some 8,500 living in camps inside Turkey and another 5,000 taking refuge in Lebanon.
On Thursday, Syrians fleeing military gunfire told Agence France Presse that new villages around Jisr al-Shughur were being attacked by tanks and snipers.
The United States meanwhile said it was in contact with opposition figures inside and outside Syria.
A State Department spokeswoman said the regime's attacks were "revolting" and showed Assad had ignored U.S. President Barack Obama's warning to lead change or "get out of the way."
The European Union was looking to toughen two sets of sanctions that are already being applied against Syria over the crackdown.
On Wednesday, the U.N. Human Rights Council reiterated its call for Syria to allow a U.N. mission into the country to investigate human rights violations.
Source: Agence France Presse
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