"There is no prospect for today or tomorrow to move forward," Brahimi told reporters after briefing the UN Security Council on his recent talks with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

Brahimi said he had told Assad and others in Syria that there had to be "change" but acknowledged that for the moment there was a "stalemate" and he had no full peace plan to offer.

"There is no disagreement anywhere that the situation in Syria is extremely bad and getting worse, that it is a threat to the region and a threat to peace and security in the world," Brahimi said.

The envoy, who took over from Kofi Annan as international envoy on September 1, also appealed to the divided 15-nation Security Council for united backing for his efforts.

"If I do not represent the entire council then I am nothing," Brahimi said.