UN Security Council urges political solution of Syrian crisis

The UN Security Council on Monday stressed that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process.

In a presidential statement adopted here, the 15-member Council demanded all parties work constructively towards the political process "that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012," according to the statement.

The Council also expressed its support for the new approach presented by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura regarding peace talks, which would set up four working groups to address safety and protection, political and legal issues, security and counter-terrorism issues as well as public services.

In this regard, the UN's most powerful body urged all parties to "engage in good faith in the efforts of the special envoy, through his good offices, and to continue consultations and thematic discussions," said the statement.

The statement came just one day after Sunday's air raids on a market place in Douma, northeast of Damascus, Syria, which reportedly killed more than 80 people and injured hundreds of others.

The Security Council expressed grave alarm that "the Syrian crisis has become the largest humanitarian emergency crisis in the world today, threatening peace and security in the region."

Since the conflict began during the so-called Arab Spring more than four years ago, at least 250,000 have been killed, including well over 10,000 children, and 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including over 4 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Endite