UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict in a speech in The Hague.

"Syria is the biggest challenge of war and peace in the world today. The body entrusted with maintaining international peace and security cannot be missing in action," Ban said, referring to the UN Security Council.

According to Ban, the team had not yet found any valuable information.

"But the team needs time to do its research," he said in the Great Hall of Justice. "Let us say here in the Peace Palace: Give peace a chance, give diplomacy a chance. Stop fighting and start talking."

Ban's comments came as British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that Britain would submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking to authorize "necessary measures" to protect civilians in the wake of alleged chemical weapon attacks.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/29/2013 page12)