Syrian Arab Republic (the): Ban ‘appalled’ by escalating violence across Syria

6 February 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the escalating violence in Syria today, calling on President Bashar al-Assad's Government to immediately cease all hostilities against the country's civilian population.

According to media reports, Syrian troops have continued their assault on the city of Homs, using heavy artillery and shelling against civilians as part of their wider crackdown against a public pro-democracy movement that emerged early last year.

'Such violence is totally unacceptable before humanity,' Mr. (...)