The electronic screen shows Syrian UN ambassador Bashar Ja'afari during the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 3, 2012. The UN General Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution demanding all parties in Syria stop all forms of violence. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The UN General Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution demanding all parties in Syria stop all forms of violence.

 

The resolution, penned by Saudi Arabia with support of other Arab nations, received 133 votes in favor, 12 against and 31 abstained.

Unlike those adopted by the Security Council, which is the most powerful body at the UN, resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are not legally binding. The voting requires a simple majority, and there is no veto.

The resolution condemned the Syrian authorities' increasing use of heavy weapons as well as continued widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It demanded all parties "immediately and visibly" implement relevant Security Council resolutions in order to "achieve a cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties, thereby creating an atmosphere conducive to a sustained cessation of violence and a Syrian-led political transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people."

The General Assembly also asked the Syrian government to strictly observe their obligations under the international law with respect to chemical and biological weapons.

The Syrian government acknowledged that it had chemical and biological weapons, but vowed it would never use them in any inner fight or against Syrian people amid the current crisis.

This is the second resolution the General Assembly has adopted concerning the situation in Syria, which has plunged into a political crisis since March 2011. The first resolution, endorsed on February 16, voiced support for political transition in Syria, which was accused by some member states of pushing for a "regime change" in the conflict-plagued country.