we heard kofi annan say that assad should step down. he never said that when he was shuttling back and forth between all of the world capitals, shuttling between the many pieces of the opposition and of course to see president assad himself in damascus. if the patient style of kofi annan could not work, then i think it is what many are saying, this will be a fight to the bitter and bloody hand. >> is there any indication at all that the west is army in the syrian rubbles? >> it is very difficult to confirm this. on my last trip to damascus, we heard a lot about the middle man, that the arms were given to various parts of the opposition because the opposition is very divided from peaceful opposition to the free syrian army to the jihadi groups that are here in even greater numbers. it is believed that qatar and saudi arabia are garmin the rebels although they will not confirm that. the u.s., other western countries are providing logistical support, operational support, advise on the ground. there has never been a confirmation they are pr

breaking news tonight an arctic international mediator kofi annan quits syria envoy blaming finger pointing and name calling at the u.n. his decision threatens to throw peace efforts into a tailspin therefore. also president obama apparently authorized covert support for the syrian rebels in their violent drive to oust president assad just as russia and america's closest ally britain tried to bridge divisions over how the crisis should be resolved. they were screaming out. in the most brutal my. mother says the u.s. threatened her in an exclusive interview in ecuador where she met the country's president as part of the whistleblowers asylum played more about this to. welcome this is r.t. from moscow my name's kevin now in our top story eight pm here kofi annan is standing down from his role as syria envoy blaming finger pointing and name calling at the u.n. security council has been the key figure in the international hopes to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the stricken country let's get the latest comment now from washington to go to a chorus one of their garniture can ge

kofi annan is out. he is quitting his post as the special envoy to syria. the former secretary-general was brought in to be the voice of the united nations and the arab league to try to diplomatically stop the fighting and the killing in syria. nothing worked. he wrote and pushed for a six-point peace plan that existed on paper only. richard roth is with the united nations right now, and first of all, kofi annan is out, and did anybody see this coming? >> well, nobody was talking about it though it is not surprising. it is interesting that it comes on this day when the u.n. security council is to discuss the fate of those u.n. unarmed observers who were sidelined by the increasing violence there, and one aspect of the failure of his mission. one diplomat from the west saying that you can't blame kofi annan for this, and don't blame the man. it is kofi annan's name who was on the six-point peace plan and they did not get to point one, and now he is off of the masthead. and so looking for the successor of the arab league, and it will be interesting to see if

. >> we just heard about the decision to step down by kofi annan. we understand his decision. we regret that he chose to do so. we have supported strongly coakley and -- kofi annan's efforts and we hope this month will be used as effectively as possible in order to keep pursuing the goal of a political settlement in syria to stop the bloodshed in that country. >> meanwhile, white house spokesperson jay carney said the intransigence of the outside regime is partly to blame for the resignation. he said despite the promise to abide by the plan, he continues to brutally murder his own people. it is disgusting and only highlights the absolute requirement that for the future of the syrian people, assad must step aside. syrian rebels in turkey expressed anger, accusing the secretary-general of bias. >> kofi annan decided to resign and not interfere in syria? we believe he is an accomplice and we believe his heart is with assad. >> kofi annan has supported bashar al-assad and is an accomplice to the massacres in syria. he is also responsible for what has be

kevin kofi annan the u.n. special envoy to syria is in fact resigning officially this resignation will be finalized at the end of the month on august thirty first when his mandate expires we have to remember of course that the nobel peace prize laureate was recruited by the moon u.n. secretary general around six months ago to join a. team of countries working in trying to resolve this conflict and the united nations to be the key meditator in solving attempting to solve the syrian crisis but because of the intricacies of the cause of the conflict itself unraveling on the ground for the last seventeen months as well as the conflicting positions of members of the united nations security council u.n. experts have been dubbing his role in this whole crisis as a diplomatic mission impossible take a listen to what kofi annan has to say about his resignation and. the increasing militarization on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the security council have fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effecti

can you talk about the significance of kofi annan now in syria? >> the resignation is a setback for anyone who had hoped there would be a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. he was the go-between between the u.s. car russia, saudi arabia, the opposition, and the regime. he was the only person that could carry messages amongst all the parties. this is clearly an indication that diplomacy is failing and the outcome, as we see in aleppo and other areas today, an attempt at an agreement seems to be on its way out. >> talk about who the opposition is right now. your piece said it is not a decision between kofi annan and the opposition but two oppositions. >> what i wrote was that there are two oppositions. there is a non-violent, peaceful opposition, who represent a vast spectrum of opinion in syria, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee confo become violent. they felt the violence itself would be too destructive for the country, no matter who won. on the other side of the opposition you have the free syrian army, al qaeda-supported militias, 70 or more militi

the year was reportedly found the successor to kofi annan and peace envoy to syria where armed rebels are on the defensive in the commercial capital of aleppo. all while the u.s. and its allies seek new ways pressure damascus outside the framework of the e.u. went with hillary clinton to hold talks in turkey. a major israeli newspaper says tell a very good to go it alone and strike iran this should resume. failing to convince the last sanctions and diplomacy not working. alone welcome to r.t. this saturday you're with me tara tara well in syria's largest city arms rebels are vowing to reclaim lost ground after being pushed from a key district by government forces assault loyalists are in the middle of a massive military assault on aleppo throwing more tanks and airstrikes at the front line the findings increase the number of refugees fleeing the city and the country with some one hundred fifty thousand now registered in neighboring nations clashes have reportedly taken place between government troops and the jordanian military on their border as more people fled through the area inter

what is your read on his resignation by kofi annan? what signal does it send?> the resignation is long overdue. his mission was doomed from the beginning. now that the country has entered civil war, i think he simply had to accept that his mission has come to an end, but a factor might be that factors like the united states are now seemingly entering a new phase of the conflict with a support their allies on the ground -- where they support their allies on the ground. >> let me pick up on that -- the u.s. sending $25,000 to aid rebels in syria. the report says it is mostly for communications equipment. do you believe that? how is that money going to get to the rebels? >> the money has already got to the rebels. we have seen that in recent months. it was not a secret that the americans were supporting the rebels. you could see the communication equipment on the ground, and that was one reason why the rebels have made these advances in recent months. as it seems the americans are leading this policy through turkey. we have the u.s. with turkey with the saudis on

a formal jury in foreign minister is tipped to be the new international envoy in syria to replace kofi annan we take a look at the man who might be tasked with resolving the conflict. the lid on the reclusive underground sect found in central russia after over twenty children were rescued from a hideout having spent a decade without daylight. plus egypt briefly reopens its crossing to gaza but only to let palestinians back to the blockaded region which remain sealed off from vital aid routes of the border violence. screen international news and comment from our new center here in moscow the diplomats have revealed for the first time who could become the next key international envoy to try and solve the syrian crisis former algerian foreign minister. is expected to replace kofi annan who resigned last week blaming finger pointing and name calling among foreign powers over the failure to end the fighting peter all of a takes a closer look at the man who could be tasked with breathing new life in to peace efforts. it's not a job many people would have wanted you think considering the situ

coming to you live from moscow and first breaking news this hour international peace and boy in syria kofi annan says he's quitting his row as syria and oil well i was made architect of the syrian peace plan the called on both sides in the syrian conflict to lay down arms and a gauge and a dialogue we have more on that from our correspondent from the u.s. and from just a few moments. u.s. president barack obama apparently authorized covert support for the syrian rebels to help them out of president asad reports of a secret order allowing the cia and other agencies to give backing follow washington's warning that the current fighting in syria will be an nail in the us as coffin the syrian issue came into focus at a meeting between president putin and the prime minister of washington's closest ally great britain lord smith follow their talks in london. it was quite simple in that this came to light about obama having signed this order to authorize secret kind of cia an agency support for the rebels who are trying to oust president assad in syria that came to light just before the meeting bet

kevin owen it's now nine pm here in moscow kofi annan is standing down from his role as syria's envoy blaming finger pointing and name calling at the u.n. security council and been the key figure in the international hopes to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the stricken country live now to new york's got some thoughts from there a correspondent has been gleaning that to see how high how there's an unexplained his decision to resign. kevin in fact u.n. arab league special envoy to syria coffee and on is resigning officially this decision will take place and come into effect at the end of the month on august thirty first when his mandate expires we have to remember that back in march bonn ki-moon kofi annan successor at the post of the united nations security secretary general had summoned the nobel peace prize laureates to take place and start participating in the conflict as a key mediator in the syrian conflict and some of course had dubbed this position the entire time a diplomatic mission impossible because of the complications of the conflicting positions of the m

you met with members of kofi annan's team. were they-- did they become aware of this problem that you were just referring to? when did they-- was there a growing frustration that you could sense? >> i met with them early june and coy sense the frustration then. at the time they were still hoping that they along with the arab league will be able to bring the syrian opposition together around a common platform. and this also did not common, you know, eventually this did not come together as we also in the arab league meeting, which failed in bringing the syrian opposition together, they were also, of course, frustrated at the time by the failure of the-- of russia or by unwillingness of russia to back resolution that will bring consequences on assad for violating the plan, the peace plan. >> brown: now colum lynch, the obvious question, where does this leave the diplomatic effort is there anyway to pick up the pieces. is there any plan behind the scenes to try to move forward at all? >> it looks pretty stark. i mean the french a

so somebody is going to replace kofi annan and it is not the u.n. and the arab league completely throwing in the towel, but you said it. the expectations are so low. we were talking about a six-point peace plan by kofi annan and richard roth made the point that we didn't even make it to point two, and we didn't make it to point one. point one being that the syrian-led political process to address the aspirations of the syrian people, and point two, end the violence, and that took hold for 24 hours. a little bit of a cease-fire when this plan was first introduced, and that was it. >> what happens to the monitors? you have 150 of the u.n. monitors who are essentially sitting in hotels with no place to go and really don't have any kind of support or firepower to speak of to actually intervene in all of this? >> well, their mission is extended a few weeks, and the question is going to be at the u.n. security council will that mission rollover? that is of course an open question, and now of course everybody is going to be waiting to hear who will be appo

and the arab league to move fast in finding a new chief peacemaker for syria kofi annan is stepping down blaming ask leading bloodshed and finger pointing at the security council we had now live to new york an r.t.s. i must try to get now so what kind of resolution could come from the general assembly. after what has been virtually months of diplomatic deadlock highlighted by the recent thursday's resignation of un special envoy to syria kofi anon the international community seems to be back to attempting to make baby steps and pushing the syrian process forward and this friday the one hundred ninety three member united nations general assembly is set to vote on a resolution which is not going to be legally binding it will be purely recommendation this text basically condemns the syrian government calling describing the failure of it to pull out of civilian areas it calls on the syrian government to stop the use of heavy weapons and it also condemns the united nations security council for failing to find some sort of tangible solution to the events unraveling on the ground now how prepar

new man fresh planet algeria's former foreign minister could replace kofi annan as the un's envoy and try to revive the peace process in turbulent syria. a first time report from the disturbing scene in central russia where a muslim sect kept almost thirty children in an eight story underground and kill without daylight for a decade. and gazans stand to lose their only lifeline to the outside world after border violence prompts egypt to seal off the massive smuggling tunnel that were crucial to the blockaded region. a pleasure to have you with us here on our to today i'm rory sushant live in moscow a former algerian foreign minister could step into the breach and try to give a kiss of life to peace efforts in syria lakhdar brahimi who was previously represented the u.n. in afghanistan and iraq will reportedly replace kofi annan as a special envoy to the war torn state i don't step aside saying he was lacking major international support now let's hand over to our he's pretty all over who he can size up the new recruit. well it's not a job many people would have wanted you think but con

arab league mediator in the syrian crisis kofi annan is standing down from his role blaming finger pointing and name calling at the u.n. security council and iran's been the key figure in the world hopes of negotiating a diplomatic solution which has been deadlocked over direct foreign action in the conflict live to our new york correspondent them for the latest reaction on this to see it is where the service is say hi again what is kofi annan said to explain why he's resigned this evening. well kevin the u.n. arab league special envoy to syria coffee is in fact resigning officially this will take place on august thirty first when his mandate expires now the nobel peace prize laureate was initially summoned to be key met eight or in the syrian conflict half a year ago a very hard six months that many had dubbed the diplomatic mission impossible partially due to the seriousness and intricacy of the conflict unraveling on the ground for the last seventeen months but also because of the conflicting opinions of the united nations security council members take a listen to what and on said about

and arab league envoy after kofi annan quit here's artie's peter offer. it's not a job many people would have wanted you think but considering the situation in syria but it's that lakhdar brahimi will be taking over from kofi annan as the next special envoy on the syrian crisis now the seventy eight year old former algerian foreign minister does have pedigree when it comes to dealing with serious conflicts he was instrumental in forming a peace in the late one nine hundred eighty s. in the lebanese civil war in two thousand and one he was sent by the u.n. as the envoy to afghanistan as the united states invaded the country following nine eleven he was again sent to iraq in two thousand and three for the invasion of that country representing the u.n. on that occasion but it's also interesting to look at what type of an envoy he will be kofi annan had quite openly spoke to both the syrian rebels and the assad government now if we look a little bit but our personal life is personal contact we might see a different approach from him but he's daughter of forme

kofi annan took on the job of u.s.-arab league envoy to syria nearly six months ago. at the time, he called stopping the violence a difficult assignment. that assignment proved too difficult. kofi annan is resigning when his term expires at the end of the month. the former u.n. secretary-general made the announcement thursday in geneva. he condemned the government of syrian president bashar al-assad. kofi annan criticized the security council for being locked in a standoff with russia and china on one side and western nations on the other. >> at the time when we need, when the syrian people desperately need action, there continues to be finger pointing and name calling in the security council. >> annan took on the role last february. since then, he worked to resolve the syrian crisis by mediating between the assad administration and members of the anti-government opposition. u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon said he accepted annan's resignation with deep regret. he will start looking for a possible successor. his departure prompted more finger pointing. officials are

calls on the new one to speed up the search for a new syria peace envoy as kofi annan quits over growing violence in the country and the blame game the security council. care girls and stun grenades involved reign of the government reads a crackdown against the long running protests as activists try and cut off a key highway. and the anti putin punk band is due to defend why it all the political stunt in russia has made the three women face up to seven years jail if convicted. cohen thanks for being with r.t. it is friday and four o'clock here in moscow and karen taraji well russia is urging the u.n. and the arab league to move fast in finding a new chief peacemaker for syria kofi annan stepping down blaming bloodshed and finger pointing out the security council now the u.n. general assembly is to vote on condemning the security council for failing to stop the violence. is across the latest from new york. this was a job that most called a diplomatic mission impossible from the get go firstly of course because of the intricacies of the conflict on the ground but also because of the confli

envoy to syria also says he's quitting with kofi annan blaming the international community's failure to unite to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. while foreign media coverage of the conflict is puerto sized as inconsistent by some syrians as rebel atrocities go largely unreported. the trial on members of a woman's punk band over an anti putin stunt in moscow's main orthodox cathedral continues but the controversy bringing sharp divisions that's the cold case that everyone seems to have if they don't both you and russia deplored in the way in which they view this dream president glad to be of join me in a few moments for all the latest on this ongoing face. below and welcome to our team am karen tara and i've got your top stories this friday beginning with syria the u.n. and the arab league are looking for a new joint envoy to syria after kofi annan said he'll step down at the end of the month the diplomat blamed a lack of consensus at the u.n. for the shortcomings of his peace plan for syria where the violence is escalating and i started going to has the latest from new york.

on that occasion but it's also interesting to look at what type of an envoy he will be kofi annan had quite openly spoke to both the syrian rebels and the assad government now if we look a little bit at but our personal life his personal contacts we might see a different approach from him brahimi is daughter of former b.b.c. and c.n.n. correspondent is married to wear one of the sons of the king of jordan. strong family ties there jordan of course a country that has been linked to the smuggling of weapons and other arms into syria into the hands of the syrian rebels and jordan of course a haven a place of choice for those defecting from the assad government to go so perhaps we could see brahimi focusing attention focusing his attention on speaking to the rebels as opposed to the way that kofi annan tried to do it with speaking to both the rebels and the assad government but it looks like he will take over from kofi annan so it looks like the next envoy going to be locked up or he the former algerian foreign minister taking on that difficult job in syria. meanwhile syrian rebels say th

it shows you support is crumbling and the regime is decaying. >> now we have kofi annan's resignation. part of the problem was under the annan plan, not only did assad have to talk, but the opposition had to talk and come up with some kind of solution. >> number one in the plan was to stop shelling and villages. none of that happen. >> what about the conflict? >> he is choosing the same destiny as gaddafi? >> killed in syria? >> or perhaps left at the last minute. there have been so many opportunities to solve this conflict in a different way. they have been wasted by this regime. they have decided to treat this entire country despite. >> we know there will be a big push on the left, and that might be a decisive feature for assad himself. do you think he is making plans to leave? >> i think he would maybe leave at the very last resort, really, when he thinks there is no way even for him to maintain damascus itself. there are lots of troops there, weakening their presence in the country, and if elected, it will be another situation in syria. >> this week saw the death of the art critic