United Nations ( CNN ) -- The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the Syrian government 's crackdown on protesters and calling for an immediate end to violence by all parties . `` The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria , and expresses profound regret at the death of many hundreds of people , '' the eight-paragraph statement says . It further calls for `` all sides to act with utmost restraint , and to refrain from reprisals , including attacks against state institutions . '' The statement says those responsible for the violence should be held accountable but offers no suggestion that foreign intervention is being considered . `` The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty , independence , and territorial integrity of Syria , '' it says . `` It stresses that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process , with the aim of effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the population which will allow the full exercise of fundamental freedoms for its entire population , including that of expression and peaceful assembly . '' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he welcomes the statement . `` The world has watched the deteriorating situation in Syria with the most profound concern , but the events of the past few days have been brutally shocking , '' he told reporters . `` Once again , I call on President ( Bashar al- ) Assad and the Syrian authorities to immediately cease all violence against their people , to fully respect human rights and implement reforms that they have already announced . '' He further urged Damascus to comply with the Security Council 's demand that international humanitarian organizations be granted unimpeded access to affected areas . `` Those responsible should be held to account , '' he said . He praised the 15-nation Security Council for speaking out `` with one voice and condemning all this violence and asking them to take necessary measures '' after long discussions on the matter . But Lebanon 's ambassador , Caroline Ziade , said her country , which is Syria 's neighbor , dissociated itself from the statement . However , Lebanon chose not to block the measure , as it could have done . Though a resolution would have been more significant than the presidential statement approved Wednesday , U.S. diplomats said they are glad the United Nations has taken a stance . CNN 's Richard Roth and Joe Vaccarello contributed to this story .
NEW : Ban calls the events over the past few days in Syria `` brutally shocking '' and a clear violation of international law. It also calls for an end to violence by all parties .