Annan arrives in Syria to discuss peace efforts

UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Syrian capital Damascus Sunday to hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad apparently regarding his faltering peace plan.

UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan [Xinhua file photo]

Annan arrived at Dama Rose Hotel Sunday afternoon accompanied by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikddad, without making any comment about the details of his visit.

However, his spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said Sunday in a statement obtained by Xinhua that Annan will hold talks with President al- Assad.

Meanwhile, a source told Xinhua that Annan's visit to Syria will be a brief one, which will last for less than 24 hours.

In his interview with French daily Le Monde on Saturday, Annan said the international community's efforts to bring the 16-months unrest in Syria to an end politically have failed. "The evidence shows that we have not succeeded."

He noted that the divisions between regional and world powers over how to resolve the Syrian issue are making the situation worse.

Annan offered a few suggestions on how the peace plan could be salvaged, in an earlier interview with the Guardian, suggesting that Iran have a role to play in resolving the crisis.

The rate of violence in Syria has ramped up notably with ongoing clashes between government troops and armed rebels, prompting the UN Supervision Mission to suspend its patrols.

The deteriorating security has also pushed the West to adhere to its adamant stance, which urges the ouster of the Syrian leadership as a way to salvage the situation in the unrest-ridden country.