Kofi Annan, the United Nations and Arab
League special envoy who for months struggled to bring peace to
Syria, resigned Thursday, blaming divisions at the UN Security
Council and escalating violence.
"The increasing militarisation on the ground and the lack of
unanimity in the Security Council fundamentally changed my role,"
Annan told reporters in Geneva. "At a time when we need - when the
Syrian people desperately need action - there continues to be
finger-pointing and name-calling in the Security Council."
"Without serious, purposeful and united international pressure,
including from the powers of the region, it is impossible for me, or
anyone, to compel the Syrian government ... and also the opposition,
to take the steps necessary to begin a political process," he added.
His resignation, which goes into effect August 31 when the mandate
for his mission expires, was announced by UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon.
Ban, who is discussing a successor with the Arab League, said the
"persistent division" within the Security Council had become "an
obstacle to diplomacy, making the work of any mediator vastly more
difficult."
"The hand extended to turn away from violence in favour of
dialogue and diplomacy has not been taken, even though it still
remains the best hope for the people of Syria," Ban said.
Syria allies Russia and China have vetoed three UN resolutions
condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's deadly crackdown on the
uprising and threatening sanctions.
The United States blamed Russia and China for Annan's resignation.
"His resignation highlights the failure in the United Nations
Security Council of Russian and China to support meaningful
resolutions against Assad that would have held Assad accountable for
his failure to abide by the Annan plan," White House spokesman Jay
Carney said.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton regretted Annan's
resignation, which she said "makes clear how unfortunate it has been
that the UN Security Council was unable to agree to a resolution."
Annan, who was appointed on February 24, drafted a six-point plan
to end the conflict. It was the only such peace plan endorsed
internationally and accepted by al-Assad.
A key component - a ceasefire announced on April 12 - was violated
on a near-daily basis. The plan also called for the government to
withdraw heavy weapons and soldiers from populated areas.
"I accepted this task, which some called 'Mission Impossible' -
for I believed it was a sacred duty to do whatever was in my power to
help the Syrian people find a peaceful solution to this bloody
conflict," Annan said.
"The increasing militarisation on the ground and the lack of
unanimity in the Security Council fundamentally changed my role," he
added.
He said the bloodshed was continuing "most of all because of the
Syrian government's intransigence, and continuing refusal to
implement the six-point plan, and also because of the escalating
military campaign of the opposition - all of which is compounded by
the disunity of the international community."
The opposition reiterated its criticism that Annan was too soft on
al-Assad.
Burhan Ghalioun, a former head of the Syrian National Council
(SNC), said Annan "did the right thing" by resigning.
"He said few weeks ago that his efforts were no longer effective
and that his plan has failed in achieving any success," Ghalioun told
dpa from Paris.
The Syrian government expressed "regret" at Annan's and blamed the
failure of his peace plan on countries who back the rebels, a
reference to Western and Arab powers, as well as Turkey. It said it
was still committed to implementing the peace plan.
Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters he hoped Annan
could use "effectively the remaining time to pursue his efforts to
stop the bloodshed in Syria."
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged the UN Security Council
to increase pressure on the regime.
"I think what we need to do is actually ramp things up. We need to
pass resolutions at the United Nations to put further pressure on
Syria," Cameron told Sky News.
The violence has escalated, spreading to Syria's commercial hub of
Aleppo, where al-Assad's troops launched an offensive to recapture
rebel-held areas six days ago.
At least 60 people were killed on Thursday across the country,
mainly in Aleppo and the central city of Homs, the opposition Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said.
Rebels used a tank captured from government forces to attack the
Menagh airbase north of Aleppo near the border with Turkey, which is
used by the military to shell rebel positions.
Activists also said there were clashes in Damascus, where at least
70 people were wounded in a government attack on the cental area of
al-Tadamon. About 3,000 people fled the district.
Government forces have been carrying out house-to-house raids in
Damascus after a bombing last month killed four top security
officials from al-Assad's inner circle.
More than 20,000 people have died in the uprising that started in
March 2011, the opposition says.
