The UN Human Rights Council strongly condemned Syria Friday for its violent crackdown of protesters and recommended urgent action by the United Nations, dpa reported.
However, the council's resolution was opposed by Russia and China and stopped short of mentioning the UN Security Council or the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
It was the third time that the Geneva-based body has censured the government of President Bashar al-Assad, this time prompted by the report of an inquiry panel that described widespread crimes against humanity.
The council said it "urges the Syrian government to meet its responsibility to protect its citizens, (and) to immediately put an end to all human rights violations."
"The Human Rights Council ... recommends that the main bodies of the UN urgently consider the report of the Commission of Inquiry and take appropriate action," the resolution read.
A direct reference to the Security Council, which can refer the matter to The Hague, was struck from an earlier draft of the text.
Of the 46 countries on the council, 37 backed the resolution, including all the Arab countries on the council - Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
China, Cuba, Ecuador and Russia voted against it and six countries, including India, abstained.
Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria last month.
Syria's Geneva envoy Faysal Khabbaz Haboui warned earlier that the rights council "should not put oil on the flames," and argued that the resolution would back violent armed protesters.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said she was concerned about increasing attacks by opposition forces, but warned that Syria will descend into civil war if the violent crackdown on protesters is not stopped now.
She said the new inquiry report, which told of killings, rape and torture of civilians, made it even more necessary to involve the ICC.
More than 4,000 civilians have been killed since March in Syria, including 307 children, according to the UN. The government claims 1,100 police and soldiers have died.