International Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will step down from the role on May 31, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday (May 13) .
Ban made the announcement saying Brahimi faced "almost impossible odds" in ending the conflict within the country.
Addressing reporters, Brahimi said," it's very sad that I leave this position and leave Syria behind in such a bad state."
For more than a year, Brahimi has made no secret that he is contemplating stepping down from the post as the United Nations and Arab League joint special representative on Syria. Brahimi is due to brief the U.N. Security Council later on Tuesday.
