Kofi Annan to be Syria crisis envoy

The United Nations on Thursday named its former leader Kofi Annan as the international troubleshooter to try to end the Syrian governments deadly crackdown on protests.As special envoy for the UN and Arab League, Annan will provide good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence and human rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, the two bodies said in a statement.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Arab League chief Nabil el-Arabi said they were grateful to Mr. Annan for accepting this important mission at a critical time for the people of Syria.A deputy envoy from the Arab region is to be named soon, the two added in the statement.More than 7,500 people have been killed in 11 months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and there is growing international pressure for an initiative seeking to end the murderous government crackdown.Annan served two terms as UN secretary general from 1997 through 2006. After standing down he was called in as a mediator to end deadly unrest in Kenya in 2008.The Ghanaian will now act under a mandate set out by a UN General Assembly resolution passed last week and Arab League resolutions on Syria, the UN and Arab League chiefs said.Annan will consult broadly and engage with all relevant interlocutors within and outside Syria in order to end the violence and the humanitarian crisis, said the statement.He will seek to facilitate a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive political solution that meets the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people through a comprehensive political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition, it added.Ban announced Annans appointment after final talks in London with el-Arabi and other international leaders on the next steps to take to end the Syria violence.