Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says current system is unfair and fails to reflect will of most countries

The Turkish prime minister has criticised the UN security council for failing to reach an agreement on how to respond to the bloody conflict in Syria.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an international conference that the world had been witnessing a humanitarian tragedy in the 19 months since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime began.

He also called for reform of the council, which he described as an unequal and unfair system that failed to reflect the will of most countries.

"If we leave the issue to the vote of one or two members of the permanent five at the United Nations security council, then the aftermath of Syria will be very hazardous and humanity will write it down in history with unforgettable remarks," Erdogan said. "It's high time to consider a structural change for international institutions, especially for the UN security council."

Erdogan did not mention specific countries, but his comments were seen as referring to Russia and China, permanent members of the council, which have so far torpedoed resolutions that sought to put pressure on Damascus to end the conflict and agree a political transition.

The violence in Syria has increased tensions between Damascus and Ankara, which were once allies. On Wednesday, Turkey intercepted a Syrian passenger plane en route from Moscow to Damascus and said it had seized military equipment. Syria said Turkey's operation was air piracy that lacked evidence, and Russia said the cargo contained radar parts that complied with international law.

Last week five Turkish civilians were killed by a Syrian mortar in the border town of Akcakale. Turkey then authorised its troops to launch operations and strikes against Syrian targets.

The UN security council said the incident showed the "grave impact" of the Syrian crisis on regional peace and stability. Erdogan, however, believes that the council is not doing enough to find a solution.

Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, met Arab and European leaders on Saturday, including Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, to discuss the escalating tensions.

According to AFP, the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, who was also due to have talks with Davutoglu, said: "It is important that no one pours oil on the fire. We are counting on moderation and de-escalation."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that more 31,000 people have been in killed in Syria in a little over a year and half, and commentators say the ongoing tensions between the Syrian government and Turkey constitute a direct threat to international peace and security, as laid down in the UN charter.