潘基文警告阿薩德儘快政改否則來不及

聯合國祕書長潘基文說，儘管他一再呼籲敘利亞總統阿薩德停止“過度和致命的”政府安全部隊行動，但針對敘利亞民衆的暴力行爲仍在繼續。

潘基文星期四在澳大利亞悉尼大學說，他已敦促阿薩德進行政治改革，“以免爲時太晚”。

權利活動人士說，星期四，敘利亞當局的鎮壓在繼續。軍車衝進敘利亞西北部的一個村莊猛烈射擊。這次行動前一天，活動人士說，安全部隊在突襲反政府抗議者的時候打死至少20人。多數死亡事件發生在中部的霍姆斯地區。

法國星期三指責敘利亞在鎮壓持不同政見人士過程中犯下“反人類罪”。與此同時，活動人士說，敘利亞安全部隊在鎮壓反政府抗議過程中打死至少20多人。

法國外長阿蘭·朱佩譴責了星期三的暴力事件，他說，國際社會有理由制裁敘利亞。朱佩會晤了俄羅斯外長拉夫羅夫，敦促俄羅斯對敘利亞採取更加強硬的立場。拉夫羅夫說，俄羅斯仍然贊成通過對話解決敘利亞的動亂。

美國常駐聯合國代表蘇姍·賴斯星期三表示，安理會決議向敘利亞總統阿薩德政府施壓已經是“過去的事情了”。她說，目前對採取其它措施還沒有取得一致意見。不過安理會成員國將繼續爲達成一項“有意義的決議”而努力。

敘利亞反對派聯盟說，星期三的大多數死亡事件發生在中部的霍姆斯地區。反對派聯盟發言人說，敘利亞安全部隊在坦克掩護下星期三凌晨闖入霍姆斯，這座衝突不斷的城市內的幾處街道隨後發生了“純軍事性攻擊”。

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says violence against Syrians has continued despite his repeated calls for President Bashar al-Assad to halt "excessive and lethal" actions by government security forces.

Ban made the comments while speaking Thursday at the University of Sydney in Australia.

"I have repeatedly urged President Assad to end the excessive and lethal use of force by his security forces against his own people - Syrian people - and to engage in meaningful inclusive dialogue by taking bold political reform before it is too late," he said. "Yet the violent operation against the civilians, including mass arrests and killings, continues.

France on Wednesday accused Syria of committing "crimes against humanity" in the crackdown as activists said Syrian security forces killed at least 20 people during raids against anti-government protesters.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned the violence, saying international sanctions against Syria are justified. He met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and urged Russia to take a stronger stance against Syria. Lavrov said his country still favors using dialogue to resolve the unrest.

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said Wednesday it is "past time" for a Security Council resolution to pressure Assad's government. She said support for additional measure is not yet unanimous, but members will continue working towards a "meaningful resolution."

Syria's opposition coalition - the Local Coordinating Committees of Syria - said the majority of Wednesday's deaths took place in the central Homs region.

A coalition spokesman said Syrian security forces backed by tanks swept into Homs early Wednesday, and that a "complete military assault" took place in several neighborhoods in the flashpoint city.

Also Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Assad, should back away from his violent crackdown on protesters and enter talks with the opposition.

During a live interview in Tehran with a Portuguese television station Radiotelevisao Portuguesa, the Iranian leader said "a military solution is never the right" one. He said problems must be dealt with through dialogue.

Earlier this year, Iranian security officials used tear gas and electric batons to disperse anti-government protesters in Tehran. Scores were arrested. And at least 72 people were killed during the crackdown on protests after Iran's disputed 2009 presidential elections. Iranian authorities also arrested hundreds of people and sentenced more than 80 of them to prison.

Meanwhile, Assad's government delayed a planned Arab League visit expected to begin Wednesday. The league said Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby now plans to visit Syria on Saturday.

Elaraby has said he wants to express Arab concerns about the violence in Syria and listen to the opinions of Syrian leaders. Last month, Syrian authorities rejected an Arab League statement calling for an end to the bloodshed.

The United Nations estimates 2,200 people have been killed since March after Assad launched the crackdown on dissent. However, Syria has blamed much of the violence on armed gangs and "terrorists."