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Syria crisis: Annan to renew talks with Assad Syria crisis: Annan in second day of talks with Assad
(about 9 hours later)
UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, on a two-day peace mission to Damascus, is due to hold a second round of talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has had a second round of talks with President Bashar al-Assad on ways to end months of violence in Syria.
On the first day of talks, President Assad rejected any political dialogue while "armed terrorist groups" were operating in the country. On Saturday Mr Assad rejected political dialogue while "armed terrorist groups" were operating in the country.
Mr Annan is trying to arrange a ceasefire and gain greater access for humanitarian aid agencies.Mr Annan is trying to arrange a ceasefire and gain greater access for humanitarian aid agencies.
He will later travel on to neighbouring countries, the UN says. Activists say troops are continuing an assault on the city of Idlib where Free Syrian Army fighters are holed up.
Diplomatic sources say his first port of call may well be Turkey, which has taken a tough line against President Assad's deadly crackdown. Mr Annan, who is on a two-day peace mission to Damascus, is due to move on to Qatar later on Sunday, a UN spokesman says.
President Assad is trying to crush a increasingly armed rebellion that sprang from the harsh crackdown of peaceful pro-democracy protests. On Monday the former UN secretary general is expected to visit Turkey, which has taken a tough line against President Assad's deadly crackdown, reports say.
Syrian troops are trying to crush an increasingly armed rebellion that sprang from a harsh crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests.
The UN says more than 7,500 people have died since unrest began a year ago.The UN says more than 7,500 people have died since unrest began a year ago.
If Mr Annan is to stand a chance of producing a peaceful political solution, he would have to persuade the Saudis, Qataris and other key players in the Arab League, and indeed the West, that pushing for regime change is going to plunge Syria and the region into deeper chaos.If Mr Annan is to stand a chance of producing a peaceful political solution, he would have to persuade the Saudis, Qataris and other key players in the Arab League, and indeed the West, that pushing for regime change is going to plunge Syria and the region into deeper chaos.
The West, also set on regime change, finds itself casting around with few valid options for bringing that about swiftly and surely.The West, also set on regime change, finds itself casting around with few valid options for bringing that about swiftly and surely.
Nato and its member powers have from the outset ruled out external military intervention as in Libya, and they continue to do so for a wide variety of compelling reasons - despite the hopes of many Syrian opposition groups that they can somehow be drawn in.Nato and its member powers have from the outset ruled out external military intervention as in Libya, and they continue to do so for a wide variety of compelling reasons - despite the hopes of many Syrian opposition groups that they can somehow be drawn in.
The West is also wary of pouring arms into the opposition, for fear of fuelling a sectarian civil war in which Sunni Islamist radicals could come to the fore - especially since al-Qaeda has begun urging jihadis to join the fray, raising anxieties on which the regime has skilfully played.The West is also wary of pouring arms into the opposition, for fear of fuelling a sectarian civil war in which Sunni Islamist radicals could come to the fore - especially since al-Qaeda has begun urging jihadis to join the fray, raising anxieties on which the regime has skilfully played.
Fighting on Saturday left at least 63 people dead, activists said, with heavy shelling reported in the northern town of Idlib. Opposition groups say at least 17 civilians and 16 fighters were killed in Idlib on Saturday, as well as up to 20 government soldiers.
Tight restrictions on foreign journalists inside Syria mean the figures cannot be verified.
'Candid and comprehensive''Candid and comprehensive'
Syrian state TV said Mr Annan's first round of talks took place in a "positive" atmosphere.Syrian state TV said Mr Annan's first round of talks took place in a "positive" atmosphere.
Mr Assad is reported to have said: "Syria is ready to make a success of any honest effort to find a solution for the events it is witnessing.Mr Assad is reported to have said: "Syria is ready to make a success of any honest effort to find a solution for the events it is witnessing.
"No political dialogue or political activity can succeed while there are armed terrorist groups operating and spreading chaos and instability.""No political dialogue or political activity can succeed while there are armed terrorist groups operating and spreading chaos and instability."
A spokesman for Mr Annan called the talks "candid and comprehensive".A spokesman for Mr Annan called the talks "candid and comprehensive".
On Saturday Mr Annan also met leaders of some Damascus-based opposition groups, including Hassan Abdulazim, head of the Syrian Opposing Co-ordination Body.On Saturday Mr Annan also met leaders of some Damascus-based opposition groups, including Hassan Abdulazim, head of the Syrian Opposing Co-ordination Body.
"We asked Kofi Annan to co-ordinate with the Arab League and its efforts," said Mr Abdulazim."We asked Kofi Annan to co-ordinate with the Arab League and its efforts," said Mr Abdulazim.
"We thanked him for UN efforts to find a solution for the crisis in Syria. Any negotiation for finding a transitional phase should be conducted after stopping violence, releasing prisoners and establishing a suitable environment.""We thanked him for UN efforts to find a solution for the crisis in Syria. Any negotiation for finding a transitional phase should be conducted after stopping violence, releasing prisoners and establishing a suitable environment."
International disagreements have paralysed action on Syria, with Russia and China opposing Western and Arab calls for President Assad to stand down.International disagreements have paralysed action on Syria, with Russia and China opposing Western and Arab calls for President Assad to stand down.
The US has drafted a fresh UN Security Council resolution but the State Department said on Friday it was not optimistic that the text would be accepted. The US has drafted a fresh UN Security Council resolution but the state department said on Friday it was not optimistic that the text would be accepted.
Although the UN wants "inclusive political solutions" through dialogue, Syrian opposition leaders have rejected talks while President Assad is still in power.Although the UN wants "inclusive political solutions" through dialogue, Syrian opposition leaders have rejected talks while President Assad is still in power.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting was reported from the north Syrian town of Idlib on Saturday, where fighters from the Free Syrian Army were trying to hold back government forces.
"Regime forces have just stormed into Idlib with tanks and heavy shelling is now taking place," an activist told Reuters by telephone.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 16 rebel fighters, seven soldiers and four civilians had been killed in Idlib on Saturday.
Tight restrictions on foreign journalists inside Syria mean the figures cannot be verified.