US slams Syria violence, says 'past time' for UN action Jan 3 03:29 PM US/Eastern The White House on Tuesday condemned the Syrian regime's continued brutal treatment of protesters there, saying it was "past time" for the UN Security Council to take sanctions against Damascus. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Syria had failed to comply with standards set by regional observers monitoring the situation, adding that "as sniper fire, torture, and murder in Syria continue, it is clear that the requirements of the Arab League protocol have not been met."