We've begun implementing Annan plan, minister says

Moscow: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mua'alem told Moscow yesterday that Damascus has started fulfilling the peace plan of envoy Kofi Annan but Russia said the regime should be more decisive in implementing the initiative.

The visit by the foreign minister to Moscow coincides with a deadline under the Annan plan for the Syrian government to withdraw forces from protest cities.

"I told my Russian colleague of the steps Syria is taking to show its goodwill for the implementation of the Annan plan. We have already withdrawn military units from different Syrian provinces," Mua'alem said after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Observers to arrive

He added that a ceasefire should begin "simultaneously" with the arrival of international observers.

Lavrov, however, made clear that Syria should be more decisive in fulfilling the plan of Annan, which most notably calls on Syria to pull out government forces and weaponry from cities hit by protests.

"We believe their actions could have been more active, more decisive when it comes to the implementation of the plan," Lavrov said at a joint news conference with Mua'alem.

He said, however, that Mua'alem had informed him that Damascus was starting to implement key conditions of the plan concerning the withdrawal of weaponry and troops.

"An immediate cessation of fire is the number one task," Lavrov said.

"We urgently call on our Syrian colleagues to strictly implement all their obligations in accordance with the Kofi Annan plan," Lavrov said.

Influence

Russia also called on the opposition as well as countries that "influence them" to use their powers to bring about the ceasefire.

"We would like to call on all opposition leaders and all countries that have influence on the political and military opposition to use their influence to bring about an immediate ceasefire as is provided by Kofi Annan's plan," Lavrov said.

Russia has repeatedly condemned the West for taking what it says is a one-sided approach in the conflict but has in recent weeks shown signs of growing exasperation with the intransigence of the Al Assad regime.

Mua'alem said that Damascus wanted guarantees from international peace envoy Kofi Annan that armed groups attacking its troops would commit to a ceasefire under a UN-backed peace plan.