Syria bars UN humanitarian chief from visiting

UNITED NATIONS – U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says Syria has denied her repeated requests to visit the conflict-wracked country.

U.N. diplomats said Amos went to Beirut to wait for a visa but received no response.

Amos said in a statement Wednesday that she is "deeply disappointed" that Syria turned down her requests to meet officials at the highest level "to discuss the humanitarian situation and the need for unhindered access to the people affected by the violence."

She said given the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, improved access is "a matter of the highest priority."

Amos backed calls for a daily pause in hostilities to evacuate the wounded and deliver food and medicine.