Annan Resigns as Syria Peace Envoy

Kofi Annan, the special envoy of the United Nations and Arab League who has sought unsuccessfully for months to resolve the Syria conflict, has submitted his resignation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations said on Thursday.
Enlarge This Image


In a statement, Mr. Ban said Mr. Annan had informed him “of his intention not to renew his mandate” when it expires at the end of August.

Mr. Annan has grown increasingly frustrated over his failure to achieve even a basic cease-fire in the conflict, which began 17 months ago as a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad and has now escalated into civil war.