UN special envoy Annan to visit Syria

UNITED NATIONS - Kofi Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy to Syria, and Valerie Amos, the UN humanitarian chief, will visit Syria in the coming days, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"Mr. Kofi Annan, the joint special envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, will visit the region from March 7, 2012," Eduardo Del Buey told reporters here. "He will begin his mission by meeting with the secretary-general of the League of Arab States in Cairo. He is scheduled to visit Damascus on March 10, followed by visits to other countries in the region."

Del Buey said that the purpose of Annan's visit is to help find a way to end the conflict in Syria.

"The purpose of his first visit is to seek an urgent end to all violence and human rights violations and to initiate the effort to promote a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis," said Del Buey.

Valerie Amos, the UN's undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, will also visit Syria, arriving in Damascus on March 7 and leaving on March 9, according to the spokesman.

"As requested by the secretary-general, her aim is to urge all parties to allow unhindered access for humanitarian relief workers so they can evacuate the wounded and deliver essential supplies," he said.