the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
said Wednesday that the international community must now act against the Syrian government's crackdown on protests "in the name of humanity."
Ban told a presser he has sent a U.N. Human Rights Council report on the Syrian regime's crackdown to the U.N. Security Council. This could increase pressure on the 15-nation council to act even though Russia and China vetoed a resolution on the crisis in October.
"In Syria, more than 5,000 people are dead. This cannot go on. In the name of humanity, it is time for the international community to act," the U.N. secretary general said.
Ban said the U.N. rights report, which highlighted that crimes against humanity may have been committed in Syria, had been sent to the Security Council and the U.N. General Assembly and it was now up to member states to take a decision.
"I hope that the United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
and the international community will be able to take concerted, coherent action."
The U.N. leader praised action taken by the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
against Syria.
League foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday to respond to Syria's proposal to admit observers in exchange for an end to regional sanctions.
Western nations, which proposed the Security Council resolution that was blocked by Russia and China in October, say they are waiting for the vaporous Arab League meeting to decide their next action.
Diplomats said Russia would almost certainly use its veto again unless there is a strong Arab lead on the Syria crisis.