U.N. chief says situation in Syria '"intolerable"

(AP) NEW DELHI - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the Syrian government's repression of its civilian population "has reached an unacceptable, intolerable stage."

Speaking to reporters on a visit to India, Ban said he's "gravely alarmed" that killings continue, despite President Bashar Assad's commitment to end violence and withdraw troops and tanks from population areas.

The U.N. has sent a team of military observers to the country to monitor a U.N.-brokered cease-fire that was to have taken effect two weeks ago. But the truce has been widely ignored on the ground.

The uprising against Assad began with largely peaceful protests. But it's evolved into an armed insurgency in response to the regime's brutal crackdown on the opposition. Government forces continue to shell opposition strongholds, while attacks against government targets have become more frequent.

The U.N. has approved as many as 300 observers, but there are only 15 on the ground right now. Officials say they hope to have 25 on the ground by Monday and 100 by mid-May.