Syrians to decide on President Assad's future: Ban Ki-moon

Geneva: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that "the future of Syria... should not be held up by the future of one man," adding that there is a need to rekindle political dialogue to find peace solutions in the war-torn country.

"I believe that it is up to the Syrian people who have to decide the future of President Assad," Ban explained on Saturday, adding that "what is most needed at this time is to have a nation-wide ceasefire, so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered."

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), humanitarian access to people in need remains highly constrained.

Ban stressed that "the United Nations stands ready to do everything possible to help move the political process forward."