Dubai: The world "cannot afford to fail on Syria", according to international peace envoy Kofi Annan who held a second round of talks with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad on Saturday but was still unable to reach a deal.
"The situation is so bad and so dangerous that all of us cannot afford to fail," the former UN chief said. "The realistic response is to embrace change and reforms but you have to start by stopping the killing and the misery and the abuse that is going on today and then give time for a political settlement."
Meanwhile, China's envoy to Syria met with GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani in Riyadh to discuss the escalation in Syria.
The bloodshed cast a pall over the UN efforts to end the country's year-long conflict. In his discussions with Al Assad on Saturday, Annan made several proposals to start political dialogue. He was rebuffed by the president who rejected any immediate negotiations with the opposition.
