Syria condemns UN chief's speech

Syria has hit back at a speech by the UN chiedf Ban Ki-moon, which said the war-torn country's government was responsible for more of the deaths of civilians.

Syria's Foreign Ministry has condemned an address by the UN Secretary General that accused the Syrian government of killing more civilians in the Syrian war than any other side.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry says the UN, under the era of outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "has deviated from its role in finding just solutions for international problems".

It says the Syrian people possess the right to self-determination and "do not need Ban's advice".

The Ministry says the address had deviated "extremely far from the rules of the UN charter," and added that the international body had failed to resolve any conflicts during Ban's era.