Saudi Arabia called on the international community on Tuesday to take “stern and decisive action” against Syria amid growing criticism over the Syrian regime’s announcement to hold presidential elections in the strife-torn country.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal made the call while strongly denouncing the systematic genocide of civilians in Syria and condemning the recent use of toxic gas in central Hama.

He said the “grave news” that Syrian forces had carried out two poison gas attacks last week was a challenge to “international will.”

“These continuous violations by the Damascus regime require the international community to take firm action against the continuous defiance of international, Arab and Islamic will,” Prince Saud said.

The reported gas attacks posed a clear challenge to the Security Council decision to dismantle Assad’s chemical arsenal, he said.

“The only way the regime would listen to calls for peace is if he (Assad) is forced to agree that we cannot reach a military solution for his desire to quell the revolution,” he said.

Addressing a joint press conference with Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Prince Saud emphasized and supported the decision made by the Arab League that calls for giving Syria’s Arab League seat to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC).

The prince, who held wide-ranging talks with Lamamra on a range of bilateral and regional issues, blasted Syria for defying the UN Security Council’s policies and resolutions.

Lamamra, who has been invited by Prince Saud to visit Riyadh, also met with Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and conveyed a message from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Talks between Saudi officials and Lamamra also focused on the need for closer coordination to counter terrorist groups in the region, as well as ways to dry up the financial resources of such groups.

The two sides denounced Israel for its intransigence and ill intentions, which have hampered the Middle East peace process.

Prince Saud hoped that the next round of Iran negotiations with the P5+1 powers would result in a final solution to the Iranian nuclear deal.

He urged all parties to comply with regulations and procedures set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the provisions of international treaties and agreements.

He called on all stakeholders to ensure “a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.”

The two ministers have expressed the need to reform the Arab League in order to expand and empower the 22-member regional organization of Arab countries.

He said that the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to Riyadh reaffirmed the historic relations between the two countries.

He said that both the Kingdom and the US benefited from the presidential visit, especially in terms of “explaining their positions on key regional issues.”