UN doubts credibility of Syria referendum

Any vote in Syria must be held in conditions free of violence and intimidation, United Nations deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters, adding that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had just noted Sundays vote organized by President Bashar al-Assads government.Syria said on Monday that almost 90 percent of voters approved a new constitution in the referendum held after 11 months of anti-government protests.While a new constitution and the end of the Baath party monopoly on power could be part of a political solution, a referendum must take place in conditions free of violence and intimidation, del Buey said.It is unlikely to be credible in a context of pervasive violence and mass human rights violations, he added. Thousands have been killed in a government crackdown on protests.The priority in Syria must therefore be for all violence to stop, only such conditions will allow a genuine political process that will meet the democratic aspirations of the citizens, the UN spokesman said.UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos is meanwhile still waiting for Syria to respond to her request to visit the country to assess the extent of the crisis, the spokesman added.Amos made an official request last week after being told by Ban to go there. The UN under secretary general is still waiting for a reaction from the Syrian government, del Buey said.