UN chief renews call to end armed violence in Syria

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday renewed his call on all parties in Syria to put an end to armed violence and prevent further bloodshed. "More fighting is not the answer. Further militarization of this conflict will only perpetuate the devastation and prolong the suffering. A sectarian civil war would also gravely imperil Syria's neighbours," Ban told reporters at United Nations Headquarters in New York. He said the "tragic and intolerable" situation in Syria was foremost on his mind during his just-concluded visits to China, south-eastern Europe and London, where he met with the Joint Special Envoy for the UN and the League of Arab States for the Syrian Crisis Kofi Annan. Annan is working for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but he needs the international community's united and concrete support to succeed, said the Secretary-General. Ban noted that the Syrian Government is adding to its "brutal crackdown" by attacking heavily populated areas with fighter aircraft and helicopters. He also noted that the armed opposition groups have also stepped up their attacks. "Each day, as the violence spirals, more Syrians are killed, injured, tortured or forced to flee their homes or their country," he stated. He voiced deep concern about the impact of shelling and use of other heavy weapons on civilians in various locations around the country, particularly in the city of Aleppo, where violence over recent days has already caused a large number of civilians to flee their homes. Reiterating his concern about weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, Ban stated that any use of such weapons would be an "outrageous crime" and a major concern for the entire international community. "We are continuously assessing the situation and our options," said Ban. "We have also intensified our humanitarian operations. As many as two million people are affected by violence. The only solution is a Syrian-led transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he added. "I call on all sides to take immediate steps to meet the Security Council requirements, and give Syria the chance it needs to move beyond the violence and onto the path to peace," the UN chief said. Ban's comments came just hours after the acting head of UNSMIS, Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye, told reporters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, that he witnessed heavy shelling in the city of Homs during a visit to the area on Sunday, and voiced concern about ongoing fighting in Aleppo.