UN chief condemns Syria mortar attack

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday condemned the mortar attack on an election rally in southern Syria, which killed at least 20 people.

Ban reiterated his opposition to "the indiscriminate use of any weapons by any party against civilians in contravention of obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law", Xinhua quoted a statement issued by his spokesperson as saying Friday.

The Syrian people desperately need an end to violence and a clean break from the past to move towards a new Syria, one in which their legitimate aspirations are met and all communities are protected, the statement said.

At least 20 people were killed and 10 others wounded Thursday evening when a mortar shell struck a gathering of supporters of President Bashar al-Assad in the southern province of Daraa.