PARIS — France is urging the United Nations and the European Union to take “strong measures” against Syria to halt its violent repression of political protests, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

“France again condemns in the strongest terms the escalating repression of the population by the Syrian authorities, which has been marked in recent days by the use of tanks, notably in Daraa,” spokeswoman Christine Fages said.

“Those responsible for the crimes of recent days should be held to account for their actions,” she told reporters.

“Within the United Nations Security Council, as within the European Union, France demands that strong measures be adopted to halt the use of force against the population,” she warned.

Pro-democracy groups estimate that at least 400 Syrians have been killed by government forces since March 15, when protests erupted against President Bashar al-Assad’s autocratic rule.