Ban: 'Race against Time' to Stop All-out Civil War in Syria
International powers are "in a race against time" to prevent all-out civil war in Syria, where the government could use the presence of ceasefire observers to prepare a new assault, U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon warned Monday.
Speaking ahead of a key U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria on Tuesday, Ban again condemned the "brutality" of President Bashar Assad's forces but said attacks by opposition groups have also "escalated."
"We are in a race against time to prevent full-scale civil war -- death on a potentially massive scale," Ban said. The U.N. already estimates that well over 9,000 people have died in the 14-month uprising against Assad.
"The government continues to assault its people," the U.N. secretary-general told the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington.
"Every day we see the most appalling images -- troops firing in city centers, innocent civilians dying, even children. Security forces are arresting and torturing people with great brutality."
A ceasefire started on April 12 under an accord between Assad and U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has broken down, with fighting raging on between government forces and anti-Assad rebels.
There are now about 60 U.N. ceasefire observers in Syria and the full force of 300 sent by the U.N. Security Council is expected to be in place before the end of May, Ban added.
"This is a difficult mission at a difficult time," he said.
"We know the security risks to our brave U.N. observers. We know that Syrian citizens could face punishment for even speaking with them. And we know the nature of the regime, which could well use the presence of the mission to prepare further violence."
Ban said Assad's must government carry out Annan's six-point peace plan, including the withdrawal of troops and guns from cities, "without further delay."
"We cannot predict how this will end," he said. "But we do know there can be no compromise on fundamental principles of justice and human rights."
Ban earlier slammed the Syrian government for holding a national election on Monday despite the ongoing violence and for failing to involve all parties.
"Only a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue can lead to a genuine democratic future in Syria," the U.N. chief said in a statement released by his office. "These elections are not taking place within that framework."
Annan is due to brief the Security Council on Tuesday, from 1400 GMT, on his struggle to establish the cessation of hostilities and get a political dialogue started.
Source: Agence France Presse
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