Ban condemns bombings in Syrian capital, urges move towards dialogue
October 11, 2012: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the string of
coordinated terrorist bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday night that
resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, urging all sides to move towards a political
transition and dialogue.
According to media reports, two simultaneous suicide
bombings killed dozens of people at a Syrian air force intelligence complex in Harasta,
northeast of Damascus. One of the suicide bombers was reportedly driving an ambulance
packed with explosives.
“The Secretary-General is extremely concerned that
the spiral of violence in Syria is creating a fertile ground for terrorism and criminal
actions of all kinds,” his spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Mr. Ban is
also concerned about the fate of detainees reportedly held at the facility where the
bombings occurred.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his firm conviction that
resorting to violence and military means will only lead to more suffering and destruction,
and that the only way out is through a political solution,” the statement said.
More
than 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have died in Syria since the uprising against
the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began last year. A further 2.5 million Syrians
urgently need humanitarian aid, according to UN estimates.
Mr. Ban urged all
sides to move toward a political transition and work closely with the Joint Special
Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, who just
arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to hold talks with regional leaders on the prolonged
Syrian crisis.
Yesterday, Mr. Ban also called on the Syrian Government to
take the initiative in declaring an immediate unilateral ceasefire, and on the opposition
to then accede to it, in a renewed bid to end what he called a “regional catastrophe
with global ramifications.”