France Demands U.N. Protection for Syria 'Liberated Zones'

French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday called for U.N. protection for "liberated zones" under opposition control in Syria.

Hollande made the call in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in which he said the Syrian conflict, Iran's nuclear drive and the terrorist threat in Mali and the Sahel region were major emergencies facing the world.

France's socialist president said the United Nations must give Syrians the support and assistance they have requested, "in particular that liberated zones be protected and that humanitarian aid be assured for refugees."

The French government has already said that it would focus its humanitarian aid for Syria in the so-called "liberated zones".

"We would like the United Nations to assure the security of these areas," Hollande said at a press conference after his speech to the assembly.

He also joined other leaders in calling for an end to the rule of President Bashar Assad.

"The Syrian regime will not retake its place in the concert of nations. It has no future among us," Hollande told the assembly.

The president reaffirmed France's stance that it would recognize an opposition government when it is formed and renewed criticism of the U.N. Security Council deadlock over Syria.

"How long will it take for the U.N. to react?" Hollande questioned. "How many more deaths will it take, how much longer can we accept the paralysis of the U.N.?"

France and other western nations have been infuriated by Russia and China using a veto three times to block U.N. Security Council resolutions which could have led to sanctions against Syria. Russia and China say the western allies only want regime change in Syria.

Ahead of an international summit on the Sahel region on Wednesday, Hollande said the crisis in Mali had become "unbearable and unacceptable". Islamist groups and rebels have taken over the north of the country after a military coup caused chaos.

"There is no time to lose," he said. "Mali must rebuild its territorial integrity and terrorism must be wiped out in the Sahel zone."

Hollande said France would support a U.N. Security Council resolution on the Mali crisis and African efforts to help the Mali government regain control of the territory in rebel hands.

Mali has asked the U.N. for an international military intervention to take back the north of the country, according to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Hollande also said France would not accept Iran's rejection of U.N. demands on its nuclear drive. France has joined other western nations in saying that Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.