UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian opposition were determined to fight to the end, but renewed appeals for political dialogue.

Ban told a press conference it was "troubling" that 18 months into the uprising against Assad there was no solution in sight.

"Unfortunately both sides, government and opposition forces seem to be determined to see the end by military means," the UN secretary general said.

"I think military means will not bring an answer," he added calling for "political dialogue reflecting the genuine aspirations and will" of the Syrian people.

Ban said that UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi may put a plan to the Syrian government after talks at the UN headquarters in New York next week.

- Agence France Presse