France Urges U.N. to Consider Syria 'Humanitarian Corridors'

The United Nations should consider setting up "humanitarian corridors" to get aid to Syrians caught in the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Wednesday.

"The idea of humanitarian corridors to allow NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to reach zones where there are absolutely scandalous massacres should be discussed at the Security Council," he told France Info radio.

France first proposed the idea last November.

Syria on Tuesday rejected U.N. charges of crimes against humanity, as monitors accused President Bashar Assad's forces of launching one of their heaviest assaults yet on the protest city of Homs.

Since the crackdown was launched less than a year ago on popular protests inspired by the Arab Spring revolts, more than 6,000 people have been killed, according to monitoring groups.