Annan wants new strategy to end Syria conflict

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press – 33 minutes ago

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — International envoy Kofi Annan urged the world's nations Thursday to "genuinely unite" behind a new effort to end the escalating Syrian conflict, warning that if things don't change quickly the country will likely see brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence and all-out civil war.

Annan told the U.N. General Assembly that his six-point peace plan is not being implemented, and he put the blame primarily on President Bashar Assad. And in a message aimed at the divided U.N. Security Council, he said there must be "consequences" for those obstructing peace efforts.

"Clearly, the time has come to determine what more can be done to secure implementation of the plan — and/or what other options exist to address the crisis," Annan said.

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Against the backdrop of a new massacre in Syria, U.N. diplomats said Annan is expected to propose tasking a group of world powers and key regional players, including Iran, to come up with a strategy to end the 15-month conflict when he addresses a closed meeting of the Security Council on Thursday afternoon.

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