Syria violence must end immediately: UN

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday called for an immediate end to the escalating violence in Syria, calling it "completely unacceptable."

In a statement released after consultations on the humanitarian situation in Syria, the Council members reiterated their call for all parties in Syria to cease all armed violence and underlined "the need for a political process leading to a political transition on the basis of the Geneva Action Group Communique of June 30, 2012."

The statement was read to the press by Eugene-Richard Gasana, permanent representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, who holds the presidency of the Council for the month of April.

In the statement, the most powerful UN body also condemned incidents of sexual violence, as well as the grave violations and abuses against children, including the use of children soldiers.

The Council urged all parties in Syria to protect civilians, ensure safe and unimpeded access for aid organizations for those in need across the country, and cooperate fully with the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations, said the statement.

It called on members of the Security Council to fulfil pledges made at the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference in Kuwait in January, including supporting the United Nations' Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan and the Syria Regional Response Plan.

In addition, the Council underlined the destabilizing impact of the crisis on Syria's neighbors and emphasized the urgent need for further support to host countries of Syrian refugees and affected communities.