Over 5000 people have been killed in Syria's violent crackdown against protesters, the UN rights chief has told the Security Council, recommending that the regime of President Bashar-al Assad be referred to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the transition of power in Yemen, saying all sides should now honour their commitments to immediately bring to an end all violence and refrain from further provocations.

Last-minute talks and the threat of a US veto have failed to divert Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from his historic quest to seek state membership at the United Nations on Friday.

The UN Security Council on Friday split the international sanctions regime for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

The UN Security Council on Friday “adopted by acclamation” a resolution to nominate incumbent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term, the Council president told reporters here.

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on all parties in the Arab-Israeli conflict to exercise “maximum restraint” and expressed “deep concern” about the shooting on the Golan heights.

Deploring the violence in Darfur and terming the situation in the troubled region of Sudan as worrisome, India has urged all parties in the conflict to enter the process of peaceful negotiation without any delay.

Ahead of a referendum that may split Sudan in two, Indian ambassador to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, said it is important to be cautious of the situation to prevent violence from breaking out in the aftermath of the referendum.

After a gap of 19 years, India on Monday formally took its place in the UN Security Council as a new non-permanent member for a two-year term, a position from which it is expected to push its agenda f