UN urges transition to democratic system in Syria

3 August 2012, 22:04 (GMT+05:00)

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The UN General Assembly called Friday for a Syrian-led political transition to a multi-party democratic system involving "the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition."

The 193-nation assembly voted overwhelmingly to "strongly condemn the continued, widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights by the Syrian authorities and pro-government militias." It accused Syria of arbitrary executions and of killing and persecuting protesters, human rights defenders and journalists.

It condemned "all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, including terrorist groups" in a resolution passed with a 133-12 vote. There were 31 abstentions.

The resolution also demanded that Syrian authorities "strictly observe" obligations under international law not to use, transfer or produce chemical and biological weapons.