Syrian President Bashar Assad told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday his bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters in his country was at an end, the United Nations said.

Assad's statement to Moon came days after key allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia demanded in no uncertain terms he bring the crackdown to a halt - and the day before US president Barack Obama called on him to step down. 
 
Ban "expressed alarm at the latest reports of continued widespread violations of human rights and excessive use of force by Syrian security forces against civilians across Syria," during a phone call with Assad on Wednesday, the UN said in a statement.
  
"The Secretary-General emphasized that all military operations and mass arrests must cease immediately. President Assad said that the military and police operations had stopped," the statement added.
 
The UN statement said Ban repeated his calls for an independent investigation into all reported killings and acts of violence, and for free access by the media.
 
It added the UN chief called on Damascus to cooperate fully with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
 
"The Secretary-General also urged President Assad to engage in a credible and peaceful process of reform towards comprehensive change.
 
"The Secretary-General emphasized the need for reforms to be implemented swiftly without further military intervention," the statement said.
 
Ban said a UN humanitarian assessment team, which the Syrian Government had agreed to receive, should be given independent and unhindered access to all areas affected by violence. Assad said the team would have access to different sites in Syria, according to the statement.
 
Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief is expected to suggest that the UN Security Council refer Syria's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters to the International Criminal Court.
 
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay will address the 15-nation council in a closed-door session on Syria on Thursday, along with UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos.
 
"OHCHR have indicated that their Syria report will find evidence that Syria has committed grave violations of international human rights law in its actions dealing with protesters over the past five months," a diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
 
Pillay will also say that a "thorough appropriate international investigation is needed," the envoy said about the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, adding she was "likely to suggest that the ICC would be appropriate." 
 
Another UN diplomat said that Pillay was "planning to suggest the idea of an ICC referral" for Syria.
 
The ICC is a permanent war-crimes court based in The Hague.