'Interfering countries' failed Annan's plan for Syria: Iran

Dubai, Aug 3:

on Friday blamed 'interfering countries' for the failure of former UN Secretary-General

's peace plan on

. Iran's official news agency

(IRNA) reported this a day after

as international envoy for Syria after failing to broker peace in the violence-ravaged country in West Asia.

Anna said he was frustrated by the continuous finger-pointing at the UN Security Council while blood continued to spill in Syria, which has been witnessing a violent rebellion against the suppressive regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Tehran has time and again supported Annan's quest for brokering a peace which was centred on a ceasefire to resolve the unending crisis, in April. But the ceasefire never occurred and Syria continued to witness the ghastly mass killings. It is reported that around 18,000 people have been killed in the Syrian violence since March last year. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said some of the interfering countries created obstacles in Annan's way and did not back his noble intention of stopping transfer of arms to Syria and bring terrorism to a halt.

The Shi'ite Muslim Iran has been a steady supporter of Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of the Shi'ite Muslim although it backed popular uprisings against tyrannical leaders in countries like Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Annan, too, stressed that Iran should be made a party to efforts for a peaceful solution in the Syrian crisis but the West strongly opposed his idea. Iran has accused Washington of ganging up with Arab countries to overthrow the Assad regime and strengthen Israel in the region by extending support to the militants.

In July, Tehran said it was willing to host talks between the warring government forces and the opposition in Syria but the opposition turned down the offer. Mehmanparast said all parties willing to give peace a chance in Syria should make a joint effort and facilitate talks between the government and the opposition.

OneIndia News

(With Reuters inputs)