International efforts to end Syria’s bloodshed shifted into higher gear yesterday after Kofi Annan, the UN envoy, invited world powers to a ministerial conference on Saturday to endorse a political transition plan.
The “Action Group for Syria” meeting is expected to be attended by several regional states. But Iran – chief ally of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria – was not among those invited, despite Russian pressure. Saudi Arabia, which has backed Syria’s opposition, was also not invited.
The decision to hold the meeting came after Moscow signed off on a draft proposal that western diplomats say calls on Mr Assad to step aside and for a national unity government to be formed. That call is expected to be endorsed at the Geneva conference. A statement from Mr Annan’s office said the action group’s objectives were to “identify steps and measures” that would secure full implementation of his peace plan, including a ceasefire and “guidelines and principles” for a transition.