15/09/2012 15:40
UN peace envoy to meet Bashar al-Assad
International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the deadly conflict in Syria is getting worse and poses a threat to the entire region and the world.
He made the comment Saturday in the Syrian capital, Damascus, after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The meeting was Brahimi's first since taking over the duties as peace envoy two weeks ago.
Brahimi told reporters great efforts will be made to make progress and to help the Syrian people end the crisis, which erupted 18 months ago. After arriving in Syria Thursday, he described that mission as "nearly impossible."
Brahimi replaced former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan two weeks ago as the international peace envoy to Syria, the Voice of America reports.
On Friday, a U.N. spokesman said Brahimi met with various Syrian officials, U.N. staff, Red Cross officers and envoys from Russia and China. Brahimi is also set to meet with a Syrian opposition group and a European Union delegation.