United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges Syria to enter "inclusive political negotiations" to address the conflict in the country as he reiterated calls for an end to violence.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives his speech at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations of Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, March 22, 2012. Ban Ki-moon urges Syria to enter "inclusive political negotiations" to address the conflict in the country as he reiterated calls for an end to violence. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)
"All the violence must stop. There should be inclusive political negotiations for the resolution of the issue, in a way which can meet the aspiration of the Syrian people and also humanitarian access should be established," Ban said after meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in his official visit to Malaysia.

More than 8,000 people have died since president Bashar Assad's government, which has been in power for 11 years, launched a crackdown on protesters last year, according to the UN.

The 15-member UN Security Council had unanimously supported former UN secretary general Kofi Annan's peacekeeping efforts to halt the conflict in Syria, threatening the country with further actions if it failed to comply with Annan's peace proposal.

Annan is leading a five-member team of international experts in Syria to try to secure a ceasefire between the government and the rebels. "At this time, the expert teams are now in Syria discussing about how we can expedite the peacekeeping process, how the ceasefire can be monitored and maintained and how we can provide humanitarian access. The International Red Cross and the special envoy have specifically proposed a few hours of pause of violence daily so humanitarian aid can be delivered," Ban said.

During his speech in the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations Malaysia earlier the day, the United Nations secretary general criticized the Syrian authorities for "suppressing its people with brutality."

By adopting the presidential statement in supporting Annan's submission, the security council is calling for an immediate end of all violence and human rights violations in clear and unmistakable terms, Ban said.

Ban Ki-moon was in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his Asian tour that includes visits to Jakarta, Singapore and his home country South Korea to attend the Nuclear Security Summit on March 26 and 27.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet