U.N. Chief Urges 'Coherent' Int'l Action on Syria

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for "coherent" new international action over the deadly crackdown on opposition protests by Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

"When he has not been keeping his promises, enough is enough and the international community should really take coherent measures and speak in one voice," the U.N. secretary general told a press conference.

Ban expressed particular concern over what he called the "very oppressive handling" of opposition protests in which more than 2,600 people have died.

Ban has had several telephone conversations with Assad since the protests erupted in mid-March. Assad made commitments at various times in the talks to end his clampdown and to make political reforms.

"These promises have become now broken promises," Ban said.

The U.N. leader said it was for the U.N. member states and the U.N. Security Council to decide what action should be taken on Syria after it had ignored "urgent appeals" by the international community.

Western powers have called for a Security Council resolution laying out sanctions against Assad. But it is deadlocked because of opposition from Russia, China and other countries.