United Nations-Arab League special envoy to Syria Kofi Anan. Photo / AP
United Nations-Arab League special envoy to Syria Kofi Anan. Photo / AP
UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan told the UN Security Council today that the crisis in Syria will "spiral out of control" if international pressure does not produce quick results, diplomats said.
Annan renewed calls for the major powers to warn President Bashar al-Assad of "clear consequences" if he does notcomply with Annan's six-point peace plan, one diplomat inside a closed-door council briefing told AFP.
"The longer we wait, the darker the future looks for Syria," the international envoy also told the 15-member council, another diplomat quoted Annan as saying.
UN leader Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council that heavy weapons, armor-piercing bullets and surveillance drones have been used against UN observers in Syria to hamper their efforts to monitor the worsening conflict.
Diplomats inside the briefing on Syria quoted Ban as saying the tactics had been used to try to force the unarmed monitors to withdraw from areas where government forces have been accused of staging attacks.
The Security Council has passed two resolutions which approved the UN monitoring mission in Syria and condemned the violence there. But it is divided over how to increase pressure.
Russia, Syria's last major ally, and China have vetoed two council resolutions which only hinted at future sanctions. The United States and European nations want economic sanctions on Assad.
The council must apply "united pressure" on Assad, Annan added, highlighting that his peace initiative could not be "open-ended".
