United Nations, January 6 (RHC)-- Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja'afari, has filed a legal complaint against American and French officials that have illegally intruded into the country to visit militant-held towns.

Ja'afari lodged the protest at the headquarters of the world body in New York on Monday against the entry of several U.S. and European officials into the country without obtaining a visa. He further called on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council to pressure member states to take appropriate measures in this regard.

The development came following illegal separate visits to the Syrian territory by Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and American diplomat Peter Galbraith. Moreover, the Syrian envoy described the visits as blatant violations of the country's sovereignty.

McCain slipped into Syria in May 2013 to meet with foreign-sponsored militants that were fighting to overthrow the Syrian government of President Bashar Al-Assad. Galbraith also entered Syria in December 2014 along with several other US political and military authorities.