Syrian opposition dismisses UN statement

Syria's main opposition group on Thursday said a UN statement calling for all parties to end violence in Syria will simply give the regime more time to continue killing its own people. "Such statements, issued amid continued killings, offer the regime the opportunity to push ahead with its repression in order to crush the revolt by the Syrian people," said Samir Nashar, member of the executive committee of the Syrian National Council. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he hoped Wednesday's rare show of unity by the 15-member Security Council -- including Russia and China -- would mark a "turning point" in the crisis, in which more than 8,000 people have been killed. "I hope that this strong and united action by the council will mark a turning point in the international community's response to the crisis," Ban said on a visit to Kuala Lumpur Thursday. Russia and China, which have blocked two resolutions on Syria, backed a Western-drafted statement that called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to work toward a cessation of hostilities and a democratic transition. The council also gave a veiled warning of future international action.