Assad urges UN to enforce resolutions

Syrian leader says UN bodies should have more intensive role aimed at implementing international resolutions.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday urged the United Nations to enforce the implementation of resolutions that end wars, in talks with UN General Assembly chief Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann.

"UN institutions should have a more intensive role aimed at implementing international resolutions to end wars and aggression against innocent civilians," the state-run SANA news agency quoted Assad as saying.

Arab countries have repeatedly criticised the United Nations for failing to force Israel to respect Security Council resolutions aimed at ending the occupation of Palestinian and other Arab land.

Assad and the UN official also discussed the global financial crisis, the agency said.

D'Escoto arrived in Syria on Saturday as part of a world tour, with regional stops to include Bahrain and Iran, in addition to visits to Britain, China, Finland and Switzerland.