Kofi Annan resigns as UN envoy to Syria

Kofi Annan has resigned as the joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria.

The Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations had been trying to resolve the conflict in the Middle East country where violence continues.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says Mr. Annan has informed him that he will not renew his mandate when it expires at the end of August.

Mr. Annan says he can no longer carry out his mission because of the increasing militarization on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the Security Council.

“Yet the bloodshed continues, 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. 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.”

Ban Ki-moon is consulting the Secretary-General of the Arab League about the appointment of a successor to Mr. Annan.

Mr. Annan was appointed in February this year.

Source: UN Radio