Ban, Brahimi meet to discuss Syria

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi met Saturday to discuss the situation in Syria, expressing hope that an upcoming U.N. General Assembly summit will help improve the humanitarian situation in the country. In a statement released after the meeting, the United Nations said the two men focused on how to address what they called "the appalling levels of violence in Syria." They also examined ways to progress towards an inclusive political solution that will meet the legitimate demands of the Syrian people. "They agreed that the worsening crisis in Syria represents a steadily increasing threat to regional peace and security," the statement said. Ban and Brahimi also discussed the importance of the presence of world leaders at the United Nations in the coming days as an opportunity to encourage increased support for addressing the grave humanitarian crisis in Syria, the United Nations said. The meeting came as Syrian rebels moved their command base from Turkey to "liberated areas" inside Syria. Meanwhile, government troops and rebels battled for control of a corridor near the border and in Aleppo city.