New UN Envoy To Syria Arrives In Damascus

Veteran diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi (pictured) took up the UN envoy post after the departure of Kofi Annan, whose peace initiatives never gained sufficient support on the Security Council.

The United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has arrived in Damascus for his first visit to the country since taking up the post.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry earlier said in a statement Brahimi is to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem in Damascus late on September 13.

It did not say whether Brahimi will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Brahimi replaced former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who quit in August over UN Security Council divisions over the 18-month-long conflict in Syria.

According to Syrian activists, more than 27,000 people have been killed since the revolt against Assad's regime began in March 2011.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa