17/10/2011 19:04
Ban Ki-moon urged Assad to stop the killings of civilians
UN chief Ban Ki-moon Monday urged President Bashar al-Assad to immediately stop the killings of civilians, a day after the Arab League called for "national dialogue" to end violence sweeping Syria.
"There are continuous killings of civilian people. These killings must stop immediately," the UN chief said in Bern.
"I told Assad: 'Stop before it is too late'," said Ban, noting that thousands have perished in the regime's brutal crackdown on dissent.
The UN secretary general also called on Assad to accept an international commission of inquiry into rights violations.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Friday that more than 3,000 people, including 187 children, have been killed in the fierce crackdown on anti-regime protests that have roiled Syria since mid-March.