UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday expressed his disappointment at the Security Council's failure to adopt a western-proposed resolution that would have threatened sanctions on Syria, owing to the negative votes of permanent members Russia and China.

"The secretary-general deeply regrets that the Security Council has been unable to agree on a resolution today to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria," said a statement released here by his spokesperson.

It said that the vote was disappointing as it comes at a time when more resolve and pressure were needed to achieve the goals endorsed by the Council, of a full cessation of violence to protect civilians and of facilitating a Syrian-led political transition leading to a democratic political system.

"The hour is grave. The international community has a collective responsibility to the Syrian people," said the statement.

The statement also noted that the secretary-general, together with the UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan and the UN as a whole, will spare no efforts in the search to end the violence and human rights violations, and to bring a peaceful democratic Syrian-led transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

"The secretary-general reiterates his urgent call upon all sides to cease violence in all its forms, and move toward a peaceful, Syrian-led political transition," it added.