11/06/2011 15:34
Assad avoiding UN's phone calls
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, facing international pressure over his crackdown on anti-government protests, has been avoiding calls from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, AP reported.
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirsky said that Ban tried to reach Assad several times, but he would not come to the phone.
On Friday, the Secretary General issued a note highlighting his deep concern over the continuing violence in Syria and its heavy toll on the civilian population and called on the government to respect the rights of the Syrian people.