UN secretary general urges end to violence in Syria, warns against use of chemical weapons

ISLAHIYE, Turkey - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has renewed a call on Syria not to use chemical weapons, saying their use would amount to an "outrageous crime in the name of humanity."

Ban on Friday also called for an end to the violence to allow a "political dialogue" and urged the U.N. Security Council to "stand united and act decisively" to end the crisis.

Ban spoke to reporters after a visit to refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey for Syrians who have fled the violence.

The secretary-general says the number of refugees has tripled since July and a serious escalation in violence will increase numbers even further.

Syria has been careful not to confirm that it has chemical weapons, but the regime insists it would never use them against the Syrian people.