BREAKING NEWS

UN chief urges Security Council to act on Syria

ABU DHABI - The UN chief said on Monday he hoped the Security Council will act together to resolve the crisis in Syria, and urged the current Arab League observer mission there to continue its work.
President Bashar al-Assad's violent response to the uprising against his rule has killed more than 5,000 people, by a UN count. Syrian authorities say 2,000 members of the security forces have also been killed.
"I hope the UN Security Council handles Syria in a coherent manner and with a sense of gravity," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on a visit to Abu Dhabi, echoing a previous call for the council to speak with "one voice" on Syria.
"The casualties have reached such an unacceptable stage we cannot let the situation continue this way," Ban said. "I highly appreciate the League of Arab States engaging in discussions with President Assad. I sincerely hope they carry on and they need to have a clear sense of action."