United Nations: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it's unacceptable that a solution to the Syrian civil war depends on the fate of one man - President Bashar Assad.
He told a news conference Wednesday that the United Nations is pressing for a nationwide cease-fire and the start of negotiations on a political settlement in January to end the nearly five-year conflict "and we must not relent."
Ban welcomed Friday's meeting in New York of about 20 key nations trying to restore peace to Syria.
He noted that some countries are talking about Assad staying in power for "limited months" during a transition "but that will have to be decided later on."
He said "in principle it's up to the Syrian people who should make a decision about the future of president Assad."
