Annan: Stopping Syria violence "at risk" – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs

Annan: Stopping Syria violence "at risk" – CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs: "Kofi Annan, the United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria, told the U.N. Security Council that he was "gravely concerned at the course of events" in the crisis-ridden Middle East nation, after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to withdraw troops from cities and towns by Tuesday's deadline.

In a letter, Annan said the Syrian government should have used the days ahead of the deadline to send a "powerful political signal of peace."

Annan wrote the letter as Syrian troops pounded cities across the nation, opposition activists said. Annan said he was not giving up on the peace plan he brokered, but the fresh violence as the deadline came and went blighted hopes for success."

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