Kofi Annan in Iraq to discuss Syria crisis

UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Baghdad for talks on the Syrian crisis with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

Earlier Mr Annan held talks in Iran, saying Tehran could play a “positive role” in ending the bloodshed. The former UN secretary-general had “constructive” talks with Syria’s President Assad in Damascus on Monday. Mr Annan has admitted his plan to find a political solution to the escalating violence has not succeeded. A ceasefire was supposed to begin in mid-April as part of his six-point peace initiative. Mr Annan is expected to brief the UN Security Council in New York on the outcome of this latest round of talks from his Geneva base on Wednesday. Speaking at a joint press conference in Tehran, Mr Annan said he was seeking Iran’s “support and cooperation” to resolve the crisis. He repeated his warning that the crisis could spill over into the wider region.