UN Secretary General Calls Situation in Syria “Disastrous”
Feb. 10, 2012
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on February 9 called the failure of the Security Council to agree to a resolution (a formal expression of opinion) on the situation in Syria “disastrous.” President Bashar al-Assad’s government has launched its most intense bombardment so far of rebel-held areas in and around the city of Homs. Communicating to Western media via social networking websites, activists in the rebellion reported an unprecedented assault on Homs, involving tanks and heavy artillery. The rebel-controlled suburb of Baba Amr was slammed yesterday with more than 200 rockets in the space of three hours.
Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York City, Ban noted, “For too many months we have watched this crisis deepen. We have seen escalating violence, brutal crackdowns and tremendous suffering by the Syrian people. I deeply regret that the Security Council has been unable to speak with one clear voice to end the bloodshed.” A UN Security Council resolution demanding that President Assad give up power was vetoed by Russia and China on February 4.
Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations. Eskinder Debebe, UN Photo
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