Azerbaijan, Baku, May 31 /Trend A.Taghiyeva/
The Syrian regime is trying to retain power and it has led to the death of thousands of civilians, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at the opening conference of the Alliance of Civilisations in Istanbul on Thursday, TRT Haber TV channel reported.
"Events in Syria are not an interfaith war, but the attempt of President Assad to retain power," Ban Ki-moon said.
He again called on the Syrian president to stop the violence in the country and begin to implement the Annan Plan. Ban Ki-moon also said political ways should be considered in the first place to resolve the crisis in Syria.
Yesterday the U.S., Spain, UK, Italy, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Germany, Turkey and other countries announced about expulsion of Syrian diplomats, in protest against the massacre of inhabitants of the Syrian village of Houla. More than 100 people, including women and children were massacred in the attack on Houla on May 25-26.
Syria has been covered by anti-government speeches for more than a year resulting in violent clashes. According to UN figures, the total number of victims in the country exceeds 10,000. In turn, the Syrian authorities say the number of those killed in clashes was over 2500 soldiers and police officers against whom there are well-armed militants.
There is an agreement on a ceasefire within the plan of the UN and Arab League special envoy on resolving the situation, Kofi Annan. However, the conflicting sides regularly report new armed incidents and victims.