Local Editor

UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan warned Wednesday that it would be "disastrous if rebels fighting the Syrian regime were to be armed," as proposed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

From the Iranian capital Tehran warned that "any further militarization of the conflict in Syria would be disastrous and have unimaginable consequences."
The envoy said he believed his plan could still be salvaged and be fully implemented by a deadline at 6:00 am Damascus time (0300 GMT) on Thursday if both the Syrian regime and rebels respected its terms.

During a press conference with Iranian foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Annan reiterated that the Syrian government have assured him it will respect the ceasefire.
"I have received government assurances they will respect the ceasefire. If everyone respects it I think by six in the morning on Thursday we shall see improved conditions on the ground," he added pointing out that "What they [Syrian regime] mean and want is an assurance that the other forces, the opposition forces, would also stop the fighting so that we could see cessation of all the violence."

Annan urged "the peaceful settlement of the Syrian issue," describing his meeting with Salehi as "positive."
For his part, the head of Iranian diplomacy emphasized that "the opportunity must be given to
 the Syrian government to make changes under the leadership of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad."
 

"The people of Syria should be able to enjoy rights such as freedom of political parties and freedom of elections, but at the same time we have announced that we oppose interference in the affairs of all nations including Syria," he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org