William Hague cranks up pressure on Syrians after UN vote

FOREIGN Secretary William Hague has urged the "discredited" Syrian regime to end its violent repression.

Mr Hague's comments came as the United Nations Security Council adopted a statement condemning attacks on civilians and widespread human rights abuses.

Prompted by an intensification of the bloody, three-month crackdown on anti-government protests, only Syria's neighbour Lebanon dissociated itself from the security council text.

Mr Hague said: "The support for this statement … demonstrates the rising international concern at the unacceptable behaviour of the regime and shows that President Assad is increasingly isolated. It comes on top of a fourth round of EU sanctions put in place earlier this week.

"As I have made clear, it is vital that the violence and repression by the Syrian regime stops. The Syrian people are calling for peaceful change. I call on President Assad's regime to end its violence and to allow genuine political reform.

"Until it does, the regime will be discredited amongst its own people and facing increased pressure internationally."

Troops and tanks were deployed to the besieged city of Hama last weekend, with casualties reported to be mounting rapidly, increasing pressure on the 15 members of the security council to condemn the regime's actions. Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa had been resisting the move.

The statement expresses "grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria, and expresses profound regret at the death of many hundreds of people" and "condemns widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians".