UN chief 'deeply concerned' over crackdown on Syrian protesters

UN chief 'deeply concerned' over crackdown on Syrian protesters

2011-04-03 01:04:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday expressed deep concern over the situation in Syria as protests continue, a statement from the UN said.

"He deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators and calls for it to cease immediately," Martin Nesirky, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said in the statement.

Several demonstrators were killed following Friday prayers in a number of Syrian cities. Security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters in a suburb of Damascus killing four people.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Syrian Government to abide by its international human rights obligations," the statement added.  

Protests in the Middle Eastern country continue threatening the 11-year-mandate of President Bashar al-Assad, who is desperately attempting to control the unrest with a string of concessions. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 61 people have been killed in Daraa governorate since March 18.

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