New envoy's success 'does not depend on Syria': Minister

DAMASCUS (AFP) - The success of a new international peace envoy to Syria depends on states such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and not on Syria, a Syrian minister told reporters in Damascus on Monday.

"The success of Lakhdar Brahimi does not depend on Syria," said Information Minister Omran al-Zoabi.

"Brahimi's success depends on certain states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey respecting his mission, by closing their borders to armed men, and by ceasing to provide weapons," he said.

Newly appointed peace envoy Brahimi is due to arrive in Syria "soon," a foreign ministry spokesman said on Sunday.