Annan warns of Syria escalation

Kofi Annan, joint special envoy on Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, said today the situation in the country …

Kofi Annan, joint special envoy on Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, said today the situation in the country needed to be handled "very, very carefully" to avoid an escalation that would destabilise the region.

Mr Annan said that he had urged the Security Council to speak with "one voice" to bring a halt to the violence, gain unimpeded access for aid workers and launch a political process leading to a democratic Syria.

He was encouraged by the "strong determination" of world powers to work together but gave no details after his briefing of the Security Council by video link from his Geneva office.

"Yes, we tend to focus on Syria but any miscalculation that leads to major escalation will have impact in the region which would be extremely difficult to manage," Mr Annan told reporters in the Swiss city.

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He said his talks on halting the violence were continuing with the Syrian government following his talks last weekend with president Bashar al-Assad, the unarmed branch of the Syrian opposition and meeting with Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey said today it might set up a "buffer zone" inside Syria to protect refugees fleeing Assad's forces, raising the prospect of foreign intervention in the year-long revolt.

Mr Annan also met today with the ambassadors of China and Russia to the United Nations in Geneva whose countries have vetoed Security Council resolutions twice on Syria.

"I was encouraged by the very strong support and the determination of the Council to work together. I know that some of you are smiling, there have been several differences, but that is also normal. And I hope pretty soon that you will be hearing one voice from the Council," he said.

Mr Annan will send a team to Damascus early next week to discuss a proposal to deploy international monitors in the country, his spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told Reuters earlier today.

"I will be sending teams in this weekend to pursue the discussions on the proposals we left on the table, and at the appropriate time when I deem sufficient progress has been made, I shall be prepared to go back to the region," Mr Annan said.

Reuters