SYRIA
has reportedly accepted a ceasefire and peace plan drawn up by United
Nations (UN) and Arab League special envoy, Kofi Annan, his spokesman
said yesterday.
The news came yesterday as Syrian troops allegedly thrust into Lebanon to battle rebels who had taken refuge there.
Annan conceded he faced a “long and difficult task” in ending the fighting, as rebel group leaders meeting in Turkey weighed how to unite their fractured movement and boost foreign backing for a year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
On a visit to Beijing, Annan told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that global cooperation with China and other countries was the only way to defuse the conflict, whose sectarian dimensions have raised fear it could spread and destabilize the wider region.
“I indicated that I had received a response from the Syrian government and will be making it public today, which is positive, and we hope to work with them to translate it into action,” Annan told reporters after meeting Wen.
Annan’s spokesman confirmed the Damascus had accepted the six-point peace plan, which the U.N. Security Council has endorsed and Annan called an “important initial step”.
Annan said it dealt with “political discussions, withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centers, humanitarian assistance being allowed in unimpeded, release of prisoners, freedom of movement and access for journalists to go in and out.
“We’ve had very good discussions about the situation in Syria and they (China) have offered their full support,” he said. “They’re going to work with me and the other members of the Council to ensure that the six-point plan is implemented.
“So we will need to see how we move ahead and implement this agreement that they have accepted,” said Annan.
The former U.N. secretary general, who flew to China from Russia, was trying to persuade Assad’s two most powerful allies to help advance his proposal which, crucially, does not insist on Assad stepping down right now - unlike previous plans which Moscow and Beijing vetoed at the Security Council. Arab leaders were expected to endorse it later this week at a Baghdad summit.
The news came yesterday as Syrian troops allegedly thrust into Lebanon to battle rebels who had taken refuge there.
Annan conceded he faced a “long and difficult task” in ending the fighting, as rebel group leaders meeting in Turkey weighed how to unite their fractured movement and boost foreign backing for a year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
On a visit to Beijing, Annan told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that global cooperation with China and other countries was the only way to defuse the conflict, whose sectarian dimensions have raised fear it could spread and destabilize the wider region.
“I indicated that I had received a response from the Syrian government and will be making it public today, which is positive, and we hope to work with them to translate it into action,” Annan told reporters after meeting Wen.
Annan’s spokesman confirmed the Damascus had accepted the six-point peace plan, which the U.N. Security Council has endorsed and Annan called an “important initial step”.
Annan said it dealt with “political discussions, withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centers, humanitarian assistance being allowed in unimpeded, release of prisoners, freedom of movement and access for journalists to go in and out.
“We’ve had very good discussions about the situation in Syria and they (China) have offered their full support,” he said. “They’re going to work with me and the other members of the Council to ensure that the six-point plan is implemented.
“So we will need to see how we move ahead and implement this agreement that they have accepted,” said Annan.
The former U.N. secretary general, who flew to China from Russia, was trying to persuade Assad’s two most powerful allies to help advance his proposal which, crucially, does not insist on Assad stepping down right now - unlike previous plans which Moscow and Beijing vetoed at the Security Council. Arab leaders were expected to endorse it later this week at a Baghdad summit.
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