Kofi Annan, whose initiative to forge peace in war-ravaged Syria failed to take hold, has resigned as the U.N. and Arab League joint special envoy to the country.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the move Thursday, saying that Annan told him and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil El Araby that he didn't want to renew his mandate when it expires on August 31.

Ban praised Annan's "determined and courageous efforts" to end the nearly 17-month-long Syrian crisis, a conflict that started when the regime brutally cracked down on peaceful protesters in March 2011 and morphed into a nationwide uprising.

But Ban cited two factors undermining Annan: The government and the opposition have been determined "to rely on ever-increasing violence," and there have been "persistent divisions within the (U.N.) Security Council."

Among the five permanent members of the council, Russia and China have persistently disagreed with tough action against the Assad regime favored by the United States, Britain and France.

As a result, Annan's departure reflects the utter failure of world diplomacy and Syrian leaders to end the fighting, in which opposition groups say more than 20,000 people have died, thousands have been imprisoned by the regime and tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes.

The conflict is now internationally regarded as a civil war between an armed resistance movement and President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Ban announced Annan's move with "deep regret" and said he and El Araby are looking for a successor for what he described as a "crucial peacemaking effort."

The appointment of the former secretary-general in February was supported by world powers and the Syrian government.

After he took the post, he worked to formulate a six-point peace plan for Syria that included a cease-fire. The United Nations established the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria to monitor the efforts to forge the plan.

Annan's plan called for establishing a cease-fire between al-Assad's government and the opposition, allowing humanitarian groups access to the population, releasing detainees and starting a political dialogue. It also called for government forces to withdraw from city centers.

Despite an initial and small drop in violence after his plan was announced, fighting raged nonstop. The terrain became so dangerous in Syria that UNSMIS monitors had to suspend their observation missions.

Ban said that Annan worked within the mandate provided to him by the U.N. General Assembly and that he is "indebted to him and his team for all they have tried to achieve."

"Kofi Annan deserves our profound admiration for the selfless way in which he has put his formidable skills and prestige to this most difficult and potentially thankless of assignments," Ban said.

Ban said peace can come only if there's a "firm commitment to dialogue" among the players in Syria and international unity.

"Tragically, the spiral of violence in Syria is continuing. The hand extended to turn away from violence in favor of dialogue and diplomacy -- as spelled out in the six-point plan -- has not been taken, even though it still remains the best hope for the people of Syria," Ban said.

snowdrops: And to use the NL cliche. . . .

How does that change the price of Garri in the Market.

manny4life: Fret not, it was in the news today "Obama signed a secret order to arm rebels to overthrow Assad". It all makes sense what Mr Annan has signaled to resign. Talk about western political influence?

snowdrops: And to use the NL cliche. . . .

How does that change the price of Garri in the Market.

manny4life:

I have watched your post, again, must every news change the price of garri in the market? SMH at most of you folks, since it did not change the price of garri, how about you walk away and don't EVER click on foreign news anymore....shioor

Bright2: It's already too late for Asad to step down cos even if he steps does, he will still die! So the war have to continue.

dasparrow:

Yes, I read that too. America always causing confusion and war in far away countries. One day, they will bite more than they can chew because when God's wrath comes upon them, they will regret the day they became a nation.

manny4life: ^^^

Don't worry the opposition will get what they wish for now that Obama has signed the secret order directing agencies like CIA to support them with weapons. CIA is about to create another Al-Quaeda in Syria, I weep for Africa.

dasparrow:

Yes, I read that too. America always causing confusion and war in far away countries. One day, they will bite more than they can chew because when God's wrath comes upon them, they will regret the day they became a nation.

gramci:


I beg to disagree, America is helping to make the world a safer place.

snowdrops:

I was expecting semi illiterate posts like this in response to my rhetoric one. And alas, I was not disappointed.

gramci:


Do you expect America to stand by and do nothing?

Bright2: @freiburger, Asad may succeed at last who know? Other than giving up at this stage. Please ask Hosni Mubarak wat happened to him after given up !

Billyonaire: The Syria Mission is a delicate one, Annan needs to stay away before this gets to WW3, America, Britain and Qatar has been arming the rebels, while Russia has been arming the Government. I dont know why Assad is not ready to step down and spare his life. This war, will take every of their souls. Someone has to talk to Assad. Once that chemical weapon stock-pile gets into rebel hands, it might finds its way into Nigeria. God help us.

gramci:


I beg to disagree, America is helping to make the world a safer place.

manny4life:

Stand by and do nothing? In what world have you been? America has been doing underground work long before now, just that the Assad regime wasn't budging and the U.S. just declared their intentions OPENLY. Thanks to their Russian Allies, that have voted "CONTINUOUSLY with A NO" to Syrian sanctions. Let me ask you, all the diplomatic and military defection in the Assad regime, you think diplomats and generals just thought it was nice to defect? Come on man, live in reality. Assad was committing a Human Right violation but he did not pose any threat to other nations like having nuclear weapons like Iran does...

Asking the CIA and probably in the future sending military artillery down there with spiral the events of what's gonna happen. Ain't no telling just like Libya, Syria WILL NEVER remain the same. I love America, but I got to say the truth sometimes, American leaders are doing too much, in this case work with sanctions and diplomacy not arming rebels with sophisticated weapon that U.S. may never get back or even control.