Aleppo 'giant graveyard' fears as thousands flee

As the Security Council held emergency talks on the fighting in New York, Syria's opposition urged the U.N. to take immediate steps to protect civilians.

A government offensive to retake all of Aleppo has pounded the city in recent days, with shelling of an opposition-controlled area reported to have killed at least 26 civilians.

Artillery shells rained down on one southeastern rebel-held district.

Speaking to the special Security Council session by video-link from London, O'Brien appealed for action to stop the fighting.

"For the sake of humanity we call on - we plead - with the parties and those with influence to do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable access to the besieged part of eastern Aleppo before it becomes one giant graveyard," he said.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said countries that back the moderate Syrian opposition would hold talks in Paris on Dec. 10, while also warning a "tragedy" was taking place in full view of the international community.

Ayrault said he wanted to bring together countries "that support a political solution in Syria and reject this logic of total war." 

"It is time for the international community to wake up because a tragedy is unfolding before our eyes," he told reporters, speaking after a cabinet meeting.

Ayrault has previously said the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Britain and Turkey would attend the Dec. 10 talks in Paris, as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.