UN Chief Demands End to Upsurge in Syria Violence Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is demanding an immediate end to the "dangerous intensification" of violence across Syria and is calling on all countries with influence to urge the parties "to pull back from the brink." Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said Monday that U.N. observers in Syria "have reported an increased level of armed confrontation between government and opposition forces." He said "the government's intensive military operations, including the shelling of Homs and reportedly other population centers, as well as firing from helicopters on Talbiseh and Rastan, are resulting in heavy civilian casualties and human rights violations." Nesirky said U.N. observers are also observing "planned and coordinated attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure in multiple locations."