UN 'may go further' after condemning Syrian crackdown

The United Nations Security Council may take a tougher stance on Syria if the ruling regime fails to halt its deadly crackdown on protesters, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Thursday. Juppe's comments came as Syrian troops and tanks continue their assault on the city of Hama, a centre of opposition protest, and just hours after the Security Council adopted a statement condemning the "widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities." Speaking to reporters in Paris, Juppe hailed the international body's condemnation as a "turning point" but warned that the Council may "go further in its decisions" if nothing has changed in a week's time, when it will meet to "re-examine the situation." "Now it is up to the Syrian authorities to stop using force against peaceful demonstrations and to implement the reforms needed to answer the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," he said in a statement. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the Security Council statement represented "the clear message of the international community" to President Bashar al-Assad. Residents and rights campaigners say at least 140 people have been killed in unrest in Hama. More than 1,600 civilians are believed to have been killed since protests began in March. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people rallied in several Syrian cities late on Wednesday.