Ban: Syria is becoming fertile ground for terrorism, all crimes

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon \"strongly condemns\" the string of coordinated terrorist bombings in Damascus Monday night that resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, and expressed concern that Syria is becoming a fertile ground for terrorism and all kinds of crimes, his press office said in a statement late Tuesday. The statement said the Secretary-General is \"extremely concerned that the spiral of violence in Syria is creating a fertile ground for terrorism and criminal actions of all kinds. All violence must stop.\" Suicide bombers reportedly carried out two attacks Monday night at a military base near Damascus. One suicide bomber drove a bomb-laden ambulance into the building killing dozens of people. The fate of prisoners held in the facility was unknown. Ban said he is concerned about their fate. \"The Secretary-General reiterates that no cause can justify terrorist attacks, wherever, whenever and by whomever they are committed,\" the statement said. Ban reiterated his \"firm conviction\" that resorting to violence and military means will only lead to more suffering and destruction, stressed that the only way out is through a political solution, and urged all sides to move toward a political transition and dialogue and to work closely with Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi. Brahimi left New York for the region. He will visit Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria. He will visit Iran at a later stage, KUNA learned. Ban stepped up his statements these days on the crisis in Syria. On Tuesday he called from Paris, France, on the Syrian Government once again to take the initiative and declare an immediate unilateral ceasefire, and on the opposition to then follow suit, in a renewed bid to end what he described as a \"regional catastrophe with global ramifications.\"