The UN Security Council has adopted a strong statement urging the Syrian government to halt its yearlong bloody crackdown on antigovernment protesters.

In a nonbinding statement approved Wednesday, the council called for a cease-fire from Syria and a halt in the fighting for two hours every day to evacuate the injured and provide humanitarian aid. The statement also calls for the start of political talks "to address the legitimate concerns of the Syrian people."

The statement was largely based on proposals UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan devised after he visited Syria.

China, which along with Russia had twice vetoed European and U.S.-backed resolutions denouncing Syrian President Bashar Assad's crackdown on protesters, welcomed the recent statement.