International powers are “in a race against time” to prevent all-out civil war in Syria, where the government could use the presence of ceasefire observers to prepare a new assault, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned Monday, May 7, Agence France Presse reported. Speaking ahead of a key U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria on Tuesday, Ban again condemned the “brutality” of President Bashar Assad’s forces but said attacks by opposition groups have also “escalated.” A ceasefire started on April 12 under an accord between Assad and envoy Kofi Annan has broken down, with fighting raging on between government forces and anti-Assad rebels. Ban said Assad’s government must carry out Annan’s six-point peace plan, including the withdrawal of troops and guns from cities, “without further delay.”