UN Council agrees on Syria peace statement

2012-03-21 17:51

New York - The UN Security Council on Wednesday demanded that Syria "immediately" implements a peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and gave a veiled warning of international action.

Following intense negotiations between the major powers, Russia and China signed up to a Western-drafted text which calls on President Bashar Assad to work toward a cessation of hostilities and a democratic transition.

The presidential statement, which carries less weight than a formal resolution, gives strong backing to Annan and the six-point plan he put to Assad in talks in Damascus earlier this month.

It says the 15-nation body will consider "further steps" if Assad fails to carry out the Annan plan.

Annan's plan calls for a UN-supervised halt to fighting with the government pulling troops and heavy weapons out of protest cities, a daily two-hour humanitarian pause to hostilities and access to all areas affected by the fighting.

- AFP