United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls on Syria to end violent repression of the country's uprising.
Speaking at a conference in Lebanon, the UN leader urged President Bashar al-Assad to accept 'the winds of change.'
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING:
''Today, I say again to President Assad of Syria: Stop the violence. Stop killing your own people. The path of repression is a dead end. The lessons of the past year are eloquent and clear. The winds of change will not cease to blow."
Meanwhile, Syrian state TV announced a general amnesty for crimes committed during the 10-month uprising.
The channel also showed footage of international observers it said were visiting Deraa National Hospital.
The Arab League observer mission has been in the country since late December, but is losing credibility as violence continues.
Opposition groups say thousands are still being detained, tortured and abused despite Assad's previous promises of amnesty.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
