DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — International envoy Kofi Annan is trying to breathe new life into his peace efforts in Syria.
After two hours of talks with Syria's Bashar Assad, Annan said they had "agreed on an approach" -- and said he would share that approach with rebel leaders.
Annan is now in Iran for talks with leaders there. Iran is a staunch Syrian ally, and Annan has said it must be part of a solution to the conflict in Syria.
Russia, another strong ally of the Syrian regime, said today it won't sign new weapons contracts with Syria until the situation there calms down. But a Russian official says his government will continue with exports that were agreed to previously.
Meanwhile, a British-based human rights group says the death toll from the Syrian conflict since March of last year has reached 17,129. It says nearly 12,000 of the dead were civilians, more than 4,300 were soldiers, and nearly 900 were military defectors.
143-a-15-(Kofi Annan (KOH'-fee AN'-an), United Nations envoy to Syria, with reporters)-"situation so far"-International envoy Kofi Annan says Bashar Assad and officials say they're committed to a six-point plan to end the violence and bring about meaningful change in Syria. (9 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *143 (07/09/12)>> 00:15 "situation so far"
142-a-08-(Kofi Annan (KOH'-fee AN'-an), United Nations envoy to Syria, with reporters)-"the president accepts"-International envoy Kofi Annan says he touched on Syria's political future in his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. (9 Jul 2012)
<<CUT *142 (07/09/12)>> 00:08 "the president accepts"
APPHOTO CAI122: This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows United Nations-Arab League special envoy to Syria Kofi Anan, left, meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, July 19, 2012. International envoy Annan raised hopes of a revived peace effort in Syria, saying he has reached a framework with President Bashar Assad and would hold talks with rebel leaders. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, sits at right (AP Photo/SANA) (9 Jul 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI122 (07/09/12)>>
APPHOTO CAI116: FILE - In this Saturday, June 30, 2012 file photo, Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria speaks during a news conference following the Action Group on Syria meeting in the Palace of Nations, at the United Nations' Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. International envoy Kofi Annan says he has agreed with President Bashar Assad on an approach to end the violence in Syria. Annan did not disclose details, but says he will also discuss it with the country's armed opposition. Annan spoke to reporters in the Syrian capital Monday following a two-hour meeting with Assad in a last-ditch attempt to salvage a peace effort.(AP Photo/Martial Trezzini, Keystone, File) (30 Jun 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI116 (06/30/12)>>
