SYRIA: U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrives in Damascus for talks with President Assad to press for a political solution to Syria's crisis

Record ID: 280411

  • Title: SYRIA: U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrives in Damascus for talks with President Assad to press for a political solution to Syria's crisis
  • Date: 11th March 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MARCH 10, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF DAMASCUS HOTEL SYRIAN FLAGS FLYING CAR CONVOY CARRYING U.N.-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY KOFI ANNAN ARRIVING CLOSE OF U.N. LOGO ON VEHICLE ANNAN AND SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER FAISAL AL-MIQDAD GETTING OUT OF CAR, ENTERING HOTEL EXTERIOR OF HOTEL
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Reuters ID: LVABBI1RTOUPO9F4MS4AV1RXYOGR
  • Story Text: U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Damascus on Saturday (March 10) to press President Bashar al-Assad for a political solution to Syria's year-long uprising and bloody crackdown in which thousands of people have been killed.
    Annan headed for a hotel after Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad met him at the airport.
    Annan's trip to Damascus followed a violent day in which activists said Assad's forces killed at least 72 people as they bombarded parts of the rebellious city of Homs and sought to deter demonstrators and crush insurgents elsewhere.
    It also followed a visit by U.N. Aid chief Valerie Amos during which she requested an assessment of the situation in a number of areas.
    Arab foreign ministers were due to hold talks in Cairo with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russia and China vetoed a U.N. draft resolution last month which would have backed an Arab League plan calling for Assad to step aside.
    Decisive victory has eluded both sides in an increasingly deadly struggle that began as a mainly peaceful protest movement a year ago and now appears to be sliding into civil war.
    Annan also plans to meet the Syrian opposition before leaving the country on Sunday (March 11). He has called for a political solution, but dissidents say the time for dialogue has passed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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