Lakhdar Brahimi to become new Syria conflict envoy: UN
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Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran diplomat troubleshooter, will take over from Kofi Annan as the international envoy on the Syria conflict, the United Nations (UN) said on Friday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran diplomat troubleshooter, will take over from Kofi Annan as the international envoy on the Syria conflict, the United Nations (UN) said on Friday.
UN leader Ban Ki Moon appealed to the divided international powers to give "strong, clear and unified" support to the new envoy, who in turn said he was not confident he could end the 17-month-old civil war.
Mr Annan announced this month that he was standing down. The former UN secretary general complained about the lack of international support shown for his six-month campaign to make President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters end their hostilities.
Mr Brahimi, 78, has vast experience handling conflict-stricken states.
