United Nations, April 27 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Tuesday that "only inclusive dialogue and genuine reform" can lead to peace in Syria, as he called upon the Syrian government to respect human rights and the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

The secretary-general told reporters here after briefing the UN Security Council on his recent visit to Qatar, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia, Xinhua reported.

" The Middle East and North Africa figured prominently throughout my trip," he said.

"I remain convinced that only an inclusive dialogue and genuine reform can address the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and restore peace and social order," Ban said.

"On Syria, we are watching events very closely, and with increasingly grave concern," Ban said.

"I condemn, utterly, the continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that have killed and injured hundreds of people," he said.

At least 25 Syrians were shot dead by troops and security forces Monday in Daraa, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.

Syria is witnessing unprecedented protests that erupted five weeks ago in Daraa, 100 km from the capital Damascus. The protests spread to other parts of the Middle East country, causing the deaths of some 340 people so far, reports said.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad made the biggest reforms yet last Thursday by lifting the 48-year-old emergency law, abolishing the state security court and bringing in a law allowing peaceful protest, but has failed to rein in the unrest.