News / Middle East

Annan in Syria for Talks With Assad

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad (R) welcomes U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan at a hotel in Damascus, July 8, 2012.
Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad (R) welcomes U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan at a hotel in Damascus, July 8, 2012.
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VOA News
United Nations special envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Damascus for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Annan's visit Sunday comes the day after the former U.N. chief admitted that the international efforts to stem the bloodshed in Syria have failed.

Annan is the architect of the most prominent international plan to end the 16-month crisis.

Also Sunday, Syrian state media announced the start of large-scale military drills along the country's coast to practice how to repel an attack by sea.  

In an interview due to be broadcast on German television later on Sunday, Assad accused the United States of providing material and political support to the rebels and hindering Annan's peace plan.
 

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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by: Anonymous
July 08, 2012 2:41 PM
I like this:
"Assad accused the United States of providing material and political support to the rebels and hindering Annan's peace plan."

Wake up and smell the roses Assad, of course the USA would help the Syrian people, you won't!!! We can't sit by and watch you slaughter thousands of innocent men women and children. You can cry all you want Assad, whatever you want Assad, your baby like attitude is pathetic. Crying the blues that we are helping innocent people protect themselves. USA isn't the only ones helping , a lot of the world is helping. If I was the leader of Turkey I'd of dealt with you personally. I couldn't sit back as my neighbour was slaughtering innocent people. Cry the blues all you want Assad your hands are full of blood, blame everything on someone else lol, nice try. Your day is coming...


by: Anonymous
July 08, 2012 2:37 PM
Give it a break Annan, we know you mean good but look at who you are dealing with. He's lied to the world, He's lied to his own people, the dictator is inflicting atrocities, brutality, torture, forcing people from their homes to live in tents, shot down a turk fighter, and you want to have a cup of tea with him and ask him to stop? He didn't even follow through with the first agreement, time to quit wasting your time and his. It actually gives him credit or a feel of authority for even arranging to meet with him. Noone in the world should ever meet with him again except for the FSA or the ICC. It's obvious that Assad wants to try and hold on to a country that he can no longer hold on to. He has control of his military and he is even losing that, he's lost ALL the support from the public in Syria and worldwide, he is hated by thousands. The man deserves to be hung, don't even bother the guy is demented and bent on winning a war he can NOT win. He is a complete lieing jackass. The world will be a better place when the FSA surrounds his palace. I still bet $1 Assad will commit suicide when the FSA surrounds his palace. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be... There will be an answer, let it be (Beatles)

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