The president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, expressed his "utmost concern" on Sunday while condemning the Syrian military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, dpa reported.
"The news from Syria are of my utmost concern. I condemn the military invasion of Hama and of other cities in the strongest possible terms. The use of heavy weaponry and the indifferent killing of innocent civilians cannot be justified under any circumstances," he said.
"The Syrian regime and the military hierarchy must finally understand the signs of the times. They will be held accountable for their deeds. The international community cannot tolerate another Hama like in 1982. The massacre must stop now and the regime has to start the transition of power," Buzek said.
"I hope that this year's Ramadan will be a month of peaceful change for Syria and the entire region. My thoughts are with the Syrian people and particularly with those who are mourning the killing of a loved one. Your suffering will not be in vain."
Buzek's statement was referring to the Damascus government crackdown in Hama in 1982, when up to 20,000 people in the city were killed as the local Sunni population attempted to revolt against then president Hafez al-Assad's minority Alawite sect.