Former UN chief Annan, speaking to reporters in Cairo, urged "the Syrian opposition to come together to work with us to find a solution that will respect the aspirations of the Syrian people."
United Nations and Arab League special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, urged the Syrian opposition today to cooperate to resolve the conflict that has left thousands dead in the past year.
Former UN chief Annan, speaking to reporters in Cairo, urged "the Syrian opposition to come together to work with us to find a solution that will respect the aspirations of the Syrian people."
Annan has been holding talks in the Egyptian capital ahead of a trip to Damascus tomorrow.
"We will do whatever we can to urge and press the cessation of hostilities and an end to the killing and violence," he said, ahead of talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr.
"But of course the ultimate solution lies in the political settlement," Annan said.
For his part, Amr warned of consequences for the entire Middle East, should the crisis spiral, his spokesman said.
Amr said that an "explosion" of the situation "would not only have internal consequences but will spread to the whole region," Amr Roshdy told reporters.
Yesterday, Amr warned that arming rebel fighters in Syria, most of them army defectors, would "lead to an escalation in the military conflict and spark a civil war."
Some Arab countries, such as Qatar and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, have spoken in favour of arming the rebels.
The opposition Syrian National Council has said it wants to organise arms deliveries to the rebels and announced the formation of a "military bureau" to coordinate and serve as a conduit for weapons supplies from abroad.
Annan and his deputy, former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser al-Qudwa, are due to travel to Syria tomorrow. Their trip was initially scheduled for Saturday.
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