Syrian army, rebels set to fight to bitter end, says UN chief

UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned that the Syrian government and rebels seem intent on fighting to the bitter end, as opposition fighters seized a crossing on the Turkish border.

Ban said the conflict will top the agenda at next week’s UN General Assembly summit of world leaders, even though there is no formal meeting on Syria, and that the international body may offer a new strategy for peace.

“Unfortunately both sides, government and opposition forces, seem to be determined to see the end by military means,” said Ban, speaking 18 months into the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

“I think military means will not bring an answer,” he told reporters. He went on to call for “political dialogue reflecting the genuine aspirations and will of the Syrian people.”

The new UN envoy on children in conflict, Leila Zerrougui, said the world body was investigating Syrian rebel groups as well as government forces for attacks that have killed children.

“We have received information concerning indiscriminate bomb attacks which have killed children in Damascus and other areas, and continue to document incidents committed by armed actors, such as the Syrian Free Army, who may have children associated with their forces,” Zerrougui told the UN Security Council.