Syria: UN chief warns of "imminent" threat of civil war There is a growing threat of full-scale civil war erupting in Syria, according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ban has been addressing the UN Security Council, as violence continues to sweep through the streets. "The danger of a full scale civil war is imminent and real with catastrophic consequences for Syria and the region," Ban Ki-moon said. International envoy Kofi Annan has confirmed for the first time that Syria is not implementing his peace plan. Meanwhile, Russia has once again voiced its opposition to sanctions. Economic sanctions directed against Damascus are only aggravating the humanitarian situation and are building up hostility among various groups of the population. The demands for immediate regime change are simply not working," said Vitaly Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the UN. The UN is coming under increasing pressure to ratchet up efforts to end the onslaught against those seeking to oust president Bashar al-Assad. A group of demonstrators set up a scene depicting a massacre outside the organisation's headquarters in New York. More about: Ban Ki-moon, Bashar al-Assad, Civil War, Syria, United Nations