UN condemns violence, urges investigation

The UN secretary general has condemned Syria for using tanks and live ammunition against protesters.

Calling for an independent investigation into recent killings, Ban Ki-moon said Syrian authorities had an obligation to respect human rights.

There have been numerous reports of a crackdown in Syria as the government seeks to crush the month-long pro-democracy protests.

UN Security Council members have so far failed to agree a joint statement.

The 15-nation council is expected to take up the issue of Syria again later on Wednesday.

'Nothing to hide'

A draft text - proposed by the UK, France, Germany and Portugal - condemns the deadly violence against Syrian civilians and backs Mr Ban's call for a "transparent" independent investigation into deaths in the protests.

"It goes without saying that Syrian authorities have an obligation to protect civilians and respect international human rights. This includes the right to free expression and peaceful assembly," the UN chief said.

Mr Ban added that he was convinced that only an "inclusive dialogue and genuine reform" could address the Syrian people's legitimate aspirations, and restore peace and social order.

But speaking outside the Security Council chambers, the Syrian envoy to the UN said the country was perfectly capable of carrying out its own inquiry.

"Syria has a government, has a state," Bashar Ja'afari said, according to Reuters. "We can undertake any investigation by our own selves with full transparency... We have nothing to hide."

The BBC's Barbara Plett, at the UN headquarters in New York, says that though the UN's most senior human rights official has been invited to Damascus, it will be difficult for Security Council members to reach agreement.

Already, she says, there is great reluctance even to support even a statement and veto-holders China and Russia are especially cautious as they are unhappy about intervention in Libya. Lebanon - closely tied to Syria - will also be reluctant to back a statement that condemns its neighbour. 

'Reform not repression' 

Earlier, European countries called for "strong measures" to halt repression in the country with France and Italy urging both the EU and UN to put pressure on Syria.

Both French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have called for an end to violence but Mr Sarkozy said France would not intervene in Syria without a Security Council resolution.

The UK, too, reiterated its call for an end to the violence with Foreign Secretary William Hague urging President Bashar Assad to "respond to the legitimate demands of his people with immediate and genuine reform, not with brutal repression".

On Tuesday, more gunfire was heard in the city of Deraa, a day after thousands of troops and tanks were deployed in the city.

Deraa has been at the centre of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

Despite the lifting of an emergency law last week, Syria's security forces have shot dead more than 400 civilians in their campaign to crush the month-long pro-democracy protests, according to Sawasiah, a Syrian human rights organisation.

It has called on the UN Security Council to start proceedings against Syrian officials in the International Criminal Court.

Western governments are struggling to find levers with which to influence Mr Assad, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. The US already has wide-ranging sanctions against Syria and is now talking about additional targeted financial measures against named individuals.

European pressure may be more significant, adds our correspondent, as it is the Europeans who have been in the vanguard of bringing Syria in from the cold in both diplomatic and economic terms.

Meanwhile, the UK and the US are both advising their nationals not to travel to Syria, saying that those already in the country should leave.

The US says some non-essential embassy staff and all embassy dependants will be leaving.

The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones, in neighbouring Lebanon, says the Syrian government disputes the Western view that the demonstrations have been non-violent.

In a statement carried by the official news agency, it said it had sent troops to several cities on the request of citizens who were worried about "armed extremists".

Our correspondent says communication with Syria is virtually impossible, though there are reports of continuing clashes as the government tries to re-establish control of Deraa.

Gunfire can be heard on video footage which has been put on the internet and is said to have been filmed on Tuesday.

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