UN's Ban Ki-moon urges end to war in Syria

Denouncing "unrelenting horrors" in Syria's war, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for an end to the violence and more aid to address a situation he said was catastrophic and worsening by the day.

"How many more people will be killed if the current situation continues?" Ban said, addressing a donors conference in Kuwait aimed at raising money for UN humanitarian work.

"I appeal to all sides and particularly the Syrian government to stop the killing ... in the name of humanity, stop the killing, stop the violence," the UN leader said.

More than 60,000 people have been killed since Syria's 22-month-old conflict began, the United Nations says.

An official of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of six Gulf Arab states, said a total of US$1 billion had been pledged at the meeting by midday, after promises of US$300 million each from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The United Nations warned on Monday that without more money it would not be able to help millions of Syrians and appealed for donations at the aid conference to meet its US$1.5 billion target.

Four million Syrians inside the country need food, shelter and other aid and more than 700,000 more are estimated to have fled to countries nearby.