Ban hits out at Syria and Yemen regimes

UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned Syria and Yemen for their violent clampdown on demonstrators and insisted that the UN Security Council had saved "many lives" with its tough resolutions on Libya.

With Syria taking centre stage in protests sweeping the Arab world, European nations struggled however to persuade the 15-nation Security Council to agree a statement condemning President Bashar al-Assad strongarm tactics against opponents.

"We are watching events very closely, and with increasingly grave concern," Ban told reporters after leaving the Security Council talks.

"I condemn, utterly, the continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that have killed and injured hundreds of people.

"It goes without saying that Syrian authorities have an obligation to protect civilians and respect international human rights."

The secretary general backed a call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for an "independent, transparent and effective investigation" into the hundreds of deaths in Syria.

The Security Council held talks on Syria but could not even start detailed discussions on a draft resolution proposed by France, Germany, Britain and Portugal, condemning the Syria violence, diplomats said.

The council was to meet again Wednesday for talks on Assad's repression. Russia was the main block to the statement which also proposed giving backing to calls for an investigation.

Turning to Yemen, Ban added: "I call once again for an immediate end to the violence against peaceful protesters. Yemen's problems can only be resolved through peaceful and inclusive dialogue.

"I hope that negotiations between the government and other parties will result in an agreement acceptable to all."

While the Security Council has been unable to agree even a statement on the troubles in Yemen or Syria, the UN leader praised the council's action on Libya where it allowed military action to patrol a no-fly zone and took sanctions against Moamer Kadhafi's regime.

He said there was still an urgent mission to protect civilians and the humanitarian crisis was becoming "increasingly urgent".

"Clearly, the Security Council's decisive and unified action has saved many lives.

"It is also clear that the Libyan regime has lost both legitimacy and credibility, particularly in terms of protecting its people and addressing their legitimate aspirations for change."

He said the UN still hoped to secure a ceasefire and special UN envoy Abdul Ilah al-Khatib will travel again Friday to the Libyan rebel capital of Benghazi.