UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime “to stop killing people,” as pressure mounted on Damascus over its widening crackdown in the north.
Mr 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 Mr Assad should “engage in an inclusive dialogue” and “take bold... measures before it is too late.”
The comments were the strongest yet from the UN 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.
Mr Ban said he was seeking a coherent UN position on the matter.
On Wednesday, in Uruguay, he stressed that Mr 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 centred 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.
Yesterday, Syrians fleeing military gunfire said that new villages around Jisr al-Shughur were being attacked by tanks and snipers.
“The army came at 0600 (0300 GMT) in the morning with tanks and positioned snipers in the area. They started shooting at anyone,” said 45-year-old Abu Nuuar, a driver from Shughur al-Kadima village, at the Turkish border.
“I saw one of my friends was shot and wounded but I don’t know what happened to him then,” said Abu Nuuar, who said he arrived at the Turkish border yesterday morning.
Dozens of displaced Syrians, including many children and women, arrived at the Turkish border either on foot or by vehicles, joining thousands of Syrians who fled the army crackdown on the northwest town of Jisr al-Shughur, but hesitate to cross into Turkey. A Syrian activist who helps the refugees on the Syrian side of the border said the army attacked two villages, Shughur al-Kadima and Janudiyeh, late Wednesday and yesterday early in the morning.
The villages are only a few kilometres away from the Turkish border, the activist said on condition of anonymity.
Locals of Turkey’s Guvecci village said they woke up at 6 a.m., hearing gunshots from the other side of the border.
Violence in Syria has claimed the lives of 1,297 civilians and 340 security force members since anti-regime demonstrations erupted in March, according to rights activists.
By Wednesday, some 8,421 Syrians had fled to Turkey following heavy clashes between regime forces and pro-democracy demonstrators.
The US meanwhile said it was in contact with opposition figures inside and outside Syria.
A State Department spokesman said the regime’s attacks were “revolting” and showed Mr Assad had ignored US 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 UN Human Rights Council reiterated its call for Syria to allow a UN mission into the country to investigate human rights violations.