John Baird, the Canadian foreign minister, has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take "stronger diplomatic action" against Syria following the Houla massacre that killed more than 100 people, including 49 children.

In a statement issued on Monday, Baird said "there must be repercussions for [Bashar] al-Assad's refusal to implement the Security Council-endorsed Annan Peace Plan".

Baird went on to say that Ottawa is calling  "on all Security Council members to come together and adopt strong measures -- including economic sanctions -- against the Syrian regime, to ensure that it fulfills its commitments and immediately stops the senseless slaughter of its own people".