The UN Human Rights Council has strongly condemned the violence in Syria and is to appoint a special investigator on the crackdown on anti-government protesters. A council report on the violence is to be sent to the UN Secretary General. The UN estimates 4,000 people have been killed during a crackdown on anti-government protests. The UK ambassador said it was the toughest resolution ever passed by the Geneva-based council. Earlier, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay called for "urgent" action to protect civilians in Syria. But Syria's ambassador in Geneva told the council a solution to his country's problems could not be found by the international community. He warned that any UN intervention would simply deepen the crisis.