CAIRO: Ending the continuous bloodshed and shelling of civilian populations by the Syria government is more important than holding a constitutional referendum, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday in Vienna. It comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attempts to deflect attention away from his security forces bombardment of his own population by announcing a referendum. “This may be one of the elements that should be included” in a political settlement of the Syrian crisis, he said about the poll due to be held on February 26. “But what is important at this time is that first the Syrian authorities must stop killing their own people.” Another priority was for international aid agencies to reach Syrians in need of humanitarian help. “We have a serious access problem,” he said. Ban was in Vienna for a conference to stem exports of Afghan opium, and to talk on the sidelines about Syria with leaders including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Alain Juppe of France. France has proposed establishing humanitarian corridors in Syria. Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Assad's regime. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 7,200 people have been killed in the 11-month uprising against Assad, who has continued to use excessive force and shelling of towns throughout. Hundreds of children have also been killed by Syrian security forces. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/QW6A4 Tags: Assad, featured, Killings, Referendum Section: Human Rights, Latest News, Syria
