Ban Ki-moon 'Gravely Concerned' at Syria Escalation

U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon is "gravely concerned" at escalating violence in Syria but the onus is on President Bashar al-Assad to fully carry out an Arab League peace plan, a spokesman said Friday.

Ban spoke out as the U.N. Security Council stepped up wrangling over a resolution on the Syria crisis. While the United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed in the government crackdown, the Security Council has failed to agree any formal resolution on Syria.

Suicide bombers hit two security service bases in Damascus earlier, killing at least 44 people in attacks the government blamed on al-Qaida but which the opposition said were the work of Assad's forces.

The U.N. secretary-general "is gravely concerned at the escalating violence in Syria," his spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

"Today's explosions in Damascus, which resulted in more deaths and injuries, underscore his growing concerns. He emphasizes that all violence is unacceptable and must stop immediately."

Despite the latest attacks, Ban stressed the need for "credible, inclusive and legitimate" political change in Syria.

He said the government must "fully and speedily" implement the Arab League peace plan and he welcomed the arrival Arab League monitors in Damascus.

Western diplomats have expressed skepticism that the monitors will be allowed to work effectively. Ban said he "looks forward to the deployment of the full-scale observer mission, which must be given unhindered access."

The 15-member Security Council meanwhile held new talks on a draft Russian resolution on Syria that the United States and European nations say is not tough enough on the Assad government.

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said European nations had unacceptable changes that backed their "regime change" agenda.