UN leader Ban Ki-moon appealed Monday for an end to outside arms supplies to rival sides in the Syrian war but the Arab League chief said that would not be possible. Ban pleaded for a halt during talks with Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, whose country has been accused by Damascus of arming Syrian rebels. "The secretary general called for stemming the supply of arms to any side in the Syrian conflict. More arms would only mean more deaths and destruction," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Friday urged the Security Council to come together on Syria, venting frustration with all sides while denying rumors he plans to resign. Brahimi told the 15-member council that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is "not in a mood for dialogue" and that the only hope for stemming the violence is if the council agrees unanimously on a plan of action, diplomats told AFP.

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait said on Thursday rioting and violence would be met with a firm response after it made several arrests at a protest over the conviction of an opposition politician for insulting the country's ruler. Witnesses said police fired teargas on Wednesday to disperse thousands demonstrating against the conviction of former member of parliament Musallam al-Barrak, who was sentenced to five years in jail for the comments last year.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon declined to comment Wednesday on rumors that UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi may resign after seven months of failed efforts to end the violence. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has criticized Brahimi -- who has held the post since September 2012 -- and rumors have circulated that the envoy might resign entirely or at least drop his affiliation with the Arab League.