The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution condemning “the continued widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights” in Syria, as a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests enters the ninth month.

At an emergency meeting the resolution was approved by 37 votes in favour to four against, and six abstentions. Russia and China were amongst those who voted against the resolution.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay told the council that over 4000 people had been killed so far, including 307 children. She said,

"In light of the manifest failure of the Syrian authorities to protect their citizens, the international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people."

The move was welcomed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who said that it showed

“that the Assad regime is now more isolated and under greater international pressure than ever before."

In a statement released in Washington, she stated,

"It is clear that the Syrian government is willing to do anything to strangle the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people."

She also told the "people of Syria, the world stands by you, and we will not ignore your plight in the face of ongoing violence."

The U.S. ambassador, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe also commented on the resolution saying,

"We've set the stage in a very substantive way for strong action by the U.N. if other entities choose to take the opportunity."

Asked if this included the ICC, she replied,

"Absolutely, including the ICC if the Security Council chooses to refer this matter."

Responding to Syrian claims that armed groups were responsible for the violence in the country, State Department spokesman Mark Toner stated,

"The overwhelming use of force has been taken by Assad and his regime. So there's no kind of equanimity here."

U.N. Director of Human Rights Watch Philippe Bolopion called on the Security Council to take further action to prevent more deaths, telling reporters,

"The time has come for the Security Council to follow the lead of the Arab League and Turkey and impose sanctions. It should put in place an arms embargo as well as an asset freeze and travel ban on Syrian officials responsible for the abuses, and refer the case to the International Criminal Court."

The resolution follows the recent imposition and tightening of sanctions on the Syrian regime by the European Union, the Arab League and Turkey.