French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe says it's a "scandal" that the United Nations Security Council has so far failed to agree a resolution addressing the deadly crackdown on antiregime protesters in Syria.
Speaking on a visit to Australia, Juppe said France and its Western allies believed that the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad had "lost its legitimacy" and that it was "too late" for the regime to implement reforms.
"It's a scandal not to have a clearer position from the UN on such a terrible crisis," Juppe said.
He said the Security Council should adopt a "very clear resolution condemning the violence" in Syria.
Efforts by France, Britain, the United States, and their allies to pass a Security Council resolution that would impose sanctions against Assad regime figures have been resisted by veto-holding Security Council powers Russia and China.
UN officials have cited estimates that more than 2,200 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the protest movement against the Assad regime began in mid-March.
compiled from agency reports
Speaking on a visit to Australia, Juppe said France and its Western allies believed that the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad had "lost its legitimacy" and that it was "too late" for the regime to implement reforms.
"It's a scandal not to have a clearer position from the UN on such a terrible crisis," Juppe said.
He said the Security Council should adopt a "very clear resolution condemning the violence" in Syria.
Efforts by France, Britain, the United States, and their allies to pass a Security Council resolution that would impose sanctions against Assad regime figures have been resisted by veto-holding Security Council powers Russia and China.
UN officials have cited estimates that more than 2,200 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the protest movement against the Assad regime began in mid-March.
compiled from agency reports
