UN chief slams Syria regime

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for an urgent end to the "indiscriminate" shelling of civilians in Syria, highlighting the likelihood that the regime had committed crimes against humanity.

The comments, echoing a statement on Monday from UN human right chief Navi Pillay, came ahead of a General Assembly vote on an Arab-sponsored resolution condemning rights violations.

"We see neighborhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centers, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost certain crimes against humanity," Ban told reporters in Vienna.

"What is important at this time is that first the Syrian authorities must stop killing their own people," Ban said after meeting Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Likely to be approved

Assembly spokeswoman Nihal Saad said Wednesday that the vote would take place on Thursday afternoon. With no vetoes in the 193-member body, it is expected that the resolution will be approved.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called on the General Assembly to pass the resolution as a show of solidarity with the people of Syria. "Germany supports the resolution put forward by the Arab states," Westerwelle said, adding that the violence in Syria must end and political change must follow.

China, meanwhile, announced that Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will visit Damascus on February 17 and 18 for talks aimed at ending the violence.

Syrian activists said government forces attacked the province and city of Daraa on Thursday, carrying out arrests and sporadic shooting, killing at least one civilian.

Quoting residents, the opposition Syria Revolution General Committee said troops killed some 18 army defectors during clashes.

Regime forces were also reported to be shelling the city of Homs, which has been under a heavy assault by artillery since February 4.

rc/dfm (AP, Reuters)