“The Syrian government has failed to fulfill its responsibility to protect its own people and instead has subjected its citizens in several cities to military assault and disproportionate use of force,” Ban told a special meeting of the UN Security Council on the “Arab Spring” uprisings.

“These shameful operations continue,” Ban said.

A popular uprising against Assad erupted a year ago. The United Nations estimates Syrian security forces have killed well over 7,500 people. Syria said in December that “terrorists” had killed more than 2,000 soldiers and police.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who was presiding over the council meeting in Britain’s capacity as Security Council president this month, said the Security Council had not lived up to its responsibility to the people of Syria.

“The situation in Syria casts a long shadow over this debate,” Hague told the 15-nation council. “In the eyes of the overwhelming majority of the world, this council has so far failed in its responsibilities toward the Syrian people.”

“It has failed to address the brutal oppression of peaceful protesters by the Syrian regime, and it has not yet put its weight and authority behind the Arab League’s efforts,” he said, referring to an Arab League plan for Assad to step aside.

He added that it was “time for the Security Council to show unity and to show leadership.”

Russia and China have twice vetoed UN Security Council resolutions condemning Syria for the crackdown. Washington and Paris have said that a third resolution, drafted by the United States, was unlikely to produce an agreement among the five permanent veto-wielding council members.

“It is unacceptable that our council should be prevented from shouldering these responsibilities,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told the Security Council. “I call upon China and Russia to take their responsibilities.”

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan feels his Syria mediation mission is on track even though violence continued to rage as he held talks with Assad in Damascus over the weekend, his spokesman said on Monday.