Maldives appalled at human cost of Syrian conflict

Maldives said Tuesday that it was "appalled" at the human cost of Syria's devastating 30-month conflict and welcomed a resolution of the UN Security Council to rid Syria of chemical weapons.

Mariyam Shakeela, minister of environment and energy of Maldives, made the statement when she was addressing the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.

"We are appalled at the human cost of the conflict in Syria," said Shakeela, who is also acting foreign minister of her country.

The Syrian conflict, which broke out following a political crisis in the Middle East country in March 2011, has reportedly killed 100,000 people. It has prompted a massive influx of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries, such as Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq.

"The use of chemical weapons at any time, by any one, for any means must not be tolerated," she said.

The 15-nation Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to rid the war-torn Syria of chemical weapons.

A UN fact-finding group has confirmed the use of chemical weapons on the outskirts of Damascus, the Syrian capital, Aug 21. However, the UN inspectors did not say who used them.

"The Council's decision, we hope, will take us a step closer to ending the atrocities taking place as we speak," she said.