Syrian opposition hails government’s acceptance of UN peace plan

PanARMENIAN.Net - A member of the Syrian National Council says the opposition welcomes the government's acceptance of a UN peace plan, AP reported.

Paris-based member of the opposition Syrian National Council Bassma Kodmani told AP by telephone Tuesday March 27 that "we welcome all acceptance by the regime of a plan that could allow the repression and bloodbath to stop."

She added, "we hope that we can move toward a peace process."

A spokesman for UN envoy Kofi Annan says Syria's government has accepted a plan he is negotiating, which includes a cease-fire by Syrian forces and a daily two-hour halt to fighting to evacuate the injured.

UN envoy Kofi Annan said Tuesday he has received the backing of both Syria and China for his plan for a negotiated end to the bloody Syrian conflict.

Annan believes Syria's acceptance of the plan is an important first step which needs to be immediately implemented, his spokesman said.

Annan, who also is an envoy for the Arab League, told reporters after meeting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday that he had received a "positive" response from Syria as well as support from China, following a similar commitment from Russia over the weekend.