Newly-appointed UN chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday (October 13th) it was time to overcome divisions over ending the war in Syria as key powers geared up for a new round of talks on the crisis, AFP reported.

"Whatever divisions might exist, now it is more important to unite," Guterres said. "It is high time to fight for peace."

Speaking after his formal appointment by the UN General Assembly, Guterres said that "to see the Syrian people suffer so much is something that absolutely breaks my heart".

The former prime minister of Portugal who also served as UN refugee chief for a decade will replace Ban Ki-moon, who steps down on December 31st after 10 years as UN chief.

"The countries that are key stakeholders will be meeting again to try to walk ahead with the peace process," Guterres said, referring to upcoming weekend meetings in Lausanne and London.

"I can only wish that they will be successful because it is the moral obligation of us all to stop the suffering of the Syrian people," he said.

During his address to the General Assembly, Guterres said it was time to stand up both to terrorists and populists, arguing that they "reinforce each other" in their extremism.

"We must make sure that we are able to break these alliances between all those terrorist groups or violent extremists on one side, and the expression of populism and xenophobia on the other side," he said.

"The two reinforce each other and we must be able to fight both of them with determination."