United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls on Syria to end violent repression of the country's uprising.<br/> Speaking at a conference in Lebanon, the UN leader urged President Bashar al-Assad to accept 'the winds of change.'<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING:<br/> ''Today, I say again to President Assad of Syria: Stop the violence. Stop killing your own people. The path of repression is a dead end. The lessons of the past year are eloquent and clear. The winds of change will not cease to blow."<br/> Meanwhile, Syrian state TV announced a general amnesty for crimes committed during the 10-month uprising.<br/> The channel also showed footage of international observers it said were visiting Deraa National Hospital.<br/> The Arab League observer mission has been in the country since late December, but is losing credibility as violence continues.<br/> Opposition groups say thousands are still being detained, tortured and abused despite Assad's previous promises of amnesty.<br/> Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
