Ban Ki-moon: 'How many more times have we to condemn them?'

Ban Ki-moon has expressed his frustration at the continuing violence in Syria, blaming the government for failing to comply with envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

During a speech at the United Nations the secretary general spoke of his anger at the regime, asking "How many more times are we to condemn them, and how many ways must we say that we are outraged?"

Mr Ban told the news conference "The danger of a full-scale war is imminent and real".

"The Syrian people are bleeding. They are angry, they want peace and dignity, and above all they all want action", he added.

Ban Ki-moon was speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Annan and Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi.