Ban condemns increasing violence in Syria, calls for peace

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Thursday condemned the escalating fighting in Syria in recent days, particularly in Aleppo, where reports indicate that civilians are among hundreds of people killed and injured, his press office said in a statement. "He condemns the continued and indiscriminate use of heavy weapons and mortar shelling against areas with civilian population. He reiterates his utter condemnation of the use of "barrel bombs" by government forces, most recently in Aleppo," the statement added. He said the parties to the conflict "must" adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law. All civilians must be protected in any situation. He is particularly concerned that, as efforts to bring the Syrian sides to a negotiating table intensify, in reference to Geneva 2 Conference, further escalation of violence will only serve the agendas of those who see military means as the only way forward, at the expense of the Syrian people who have suffered enough already. He appealed to the warring sides to free all persons detained or abducted, end the sieges and allow unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need. "Most importantly, all must start to work immediately on reducing the levels of violence and focusing instead on a peaceful, political solution to the conflict," he stressed.