Britain said Thursday''s UN vote sent a clear message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that world leaders would hold to account those responsible for the violent crackdown on dissent. The UN General Assembly voted 137 to 12 to approve a resolution calling for an immediate halt to violence against Syrian people. "It sent a clear signal of the international community''s condemnation of the Syrian regime''s actions and intention to hold to account those responsible for the ongoing atrocities," Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement. "The message is unambiguous. The violence must stop immediately," added the Foreign Office release. Britain will back the Arab League at the Friends of Syria meeting scheduled next week, said Hague. Hague said he has urged UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a special representative to work alongside them. " Assad and the Syrian regime must heed the call of the international community and allow a peaceful political transition to resolve the crisis," he continued. "Assad and those around him should be under no doubt that we will continue to support the Syrian people in their aspiration for a peaceful political transition in Syria," he added0 Seventeen UN member states abstained from voting on the resolution, which came just days after Russia and China joined forces to use their veto power to derail a similar text in the UN Security Council.