UN confirms new Syria envoy

United Nations -

Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran Algerian diplomat, will take over from Kofi Annan as the international envoy on the Syria conflict, the United Nations said Friday.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon appealed for “strong, clear and unified” international support behind Brahimi as he announced the appointment in a statement.

Annan announced he was resigning this month, complaining about the lack of support shown by the major powers for his six month campaign to end the civil war.

Brahimi, 78, is a former Algerian foreign minister and was also a UN envoy in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.

UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said that Brahimi would come to New York “soon” for talks. Annan is to step down on August 31.

“The violence and the suffering in Syria must come to an end,” Ban said in a statement released by his spokesman.

“The secretary general appreciates Mr Brahimi's willingness to bring his considerable talents and experience to this crucial task for which he will need, and rightly expects, the strong, clear and unified support of the international community, including the Security Council,” the spokesman added. - Sapa-AFP