Stop killing your own people: Ban tells Assad
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In a strongly worded statement, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to immediately stop violence against his own people.
"I say again to President Assad of Syria: Stop the violence. Stop killing your own people. The path of repression is a dead end," Ban said at the High-Level Meeting on Reform and Transitions to Democracy in Beirut, Lebanon.
Ban's remarks came amidst increasing international pressure on the Syrian government, which is facing an armed uprising, with a growing risk of civil war. Led by the US, the international community too has been asking the Syrian president to stop violence.
The Obama Administration has said that Assad has lost legitimacy to rule and should leave presidency immediately. In a major address on the developments in North Africa and Middle east region of the world, the UN Secretary General referred to the winds of change blowing in the region and said that the lessons of the past year are eloquent and clear.
"The winds of change will not cease to blow. The flame ignited in Tunisia will not be dimmed. Let us remember, as well: none of these great changes began with a call for a regime change," he said.
The UN chief said people want dignity, end to corruption and a say in their future. "They want jobs and justice, a fair share of political power. They want their human rights. For too long, Arabs stood on the sidelines. They watched as others threw off tyranny in Europe, Asia and Africa. They asked: why not us? Why so little democracy in a part of the world so rich in human potential? Now their time has come. Now your time has come," he said.
The event was organised by Lebanese Government and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). "The old way, the old order, is crumbling one-man rule and the perpetuation of family dynasties, monopolies of wealth and power, the silencing of the media, the deprivation of fundamental freedoms that are the birthright of men, women and children on this planet," he said.
"To all of this, the people say: enough! Enough is enough. This is cause to celebrate and much more. The spontaneous, homegrown and non-violent movements are a credit to the Arab people," Ban said.
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