UN head, Security Council envoys discuss Syria as mediator wants out

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and ambassadors from the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China discussed "possible diplomatic moves to end" the Syria conflict after U.N. diplomats said mediator Lakhdar Brahimi was determined to quit.

Diplomats, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that Brahimi wanted to resign from the joint U.N.-Arab League role because he is frustrated with international deadlock over how to end Syria's two-year war that has killed 70,000.

The envoys from the permanent five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council declined to comment after meeting with the secretary-general. A dispute between Russia and the United States over Syria has left the council paralyzed.

Brahimi, appointed last year after former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan resigned as Syria mediator, also wants to distance himself from the Arab League, envoys said, because of its decision to recognize Syria's opposition.