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Kofi Annan died following a short illness

Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan dies aged 80

Former United Nations secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan has died aged 80.

Lakhdar Brahimi would need the support of the UN Security Council, according to Mr Annan

Annan says Russia must act to end Syria conflict

Former peace envoy Kofi Annan has warned that the violent struggle between the Syrian government and opposition forces risks tearing the country apart.

News • 14 Sep 12

UN condemns Syria government, Security Council

UN member states have overwhelmingly voted to condemn the Syrian government at a special session of the General Assembly.

News • 04 Aug 12

Sergei Lavrov outlined his position ahead of a meeting with envoy Kofi Annan today

Russia stands firm on Syria mission

Russia has it would block moves at the UN Security Council to extend a monitoring mission in Syria if Western powers do not stop resorting to "blackmail" by threatening sanctions against Syria.

News • 16 Jul 12

Heavy fighting spreads in Damascus

Clashes in Damascus between state forces and rebels, described by residents as the heaviest fighting to reach the capital since the start of the 15-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, have spread to a second district.

World • 16 Jul 12

UN observers say Syria attack targeted defectors

An attack in the Syrian village of Tremseh appeared to target the homes of army defectors and activists, and assailants used weapons including artillery and mortars, a statement by the spokesman for the UN observers in Syria said.

World • 16 Jul 12

UN observers blame Syrian air force for massacre

UN observers in Syria have described an attack on a village in the Hama region in which about 220 people were reported killed as part of a continuing Syrian air force operation.

News • 13 Jul 12

Annan, Assad agree new approach to end conflict

UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan says he has had constructive talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

News • 09 Jul 12

Kofi Annan said there is no guarantee his plan will succeed

Kofi Annan arrives in Syrian capital Damascus

UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Damascus for talks with President Bashar Al-Assad, according to his spokesman.

News • 08 Jul 12

The Geneva talks had been billed as a last-ditch effort to halt the worsening violence in Syria

Foreign ministers agree to plan in Geneva on Syria

International powers have agreed that a transitional government should be set up in Syria to end the bloodshed.

News • 01 Jul 12

Fears over Syria's future as threat of civil war looms

As many declare Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria a failure, RTÉ News’ Deputy Foreign Editor Anthony Murnane examines the conflict in the country.

Special Reports • 07 Jun 12

Kofi Annan: 'The longer we wait, the darker the future looks for Syria'

Kofi Annan fears Syria will spiral out of control

Kofi Annan has warned the UN Security Council that the Syrian crisis will soon spiral out of control and called for consequences for the undermining of the peace plan.

News • 08 Jun 12

Bashar al-Assad repeated pledge to crackdown on opponents

Assad condemns 'abominable' massacre in Houla

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has condemned the "abominable" massacre of more than 100 people in Houla, saying even monsters could not carry out such acts.

News • 03 Jun 12

Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, 15km from the flashpoint city of Homs

Civilians executed in Syria, reports claim

Syrian government forces have executed 12 civilians on their way home from work in a fertiliser factory in Qusayr, activists in the town have claimed.

News • 01 Jun 12

Kofi Annan held new talks with the Syrian leadership in a fresh bid to end violence there

Western governments expel Syrian diplomats

Eight Western governments have expelled Syrian diplomats from their capitals in a coordinated action against Bashar al-Assad's government over the killing of more than 100 civilians in Houla.

News • 29 May 12

The violence has been condemned as a massacre

More than 90 killed in fresh violence in Syria

A Syrian artillery barrage has killed more than 90 people, including dozens of children.

News • 28 May 12

A ceasefire brokered by Kofi Annan is one month old

Opposition reports further deaths in central Syria

Syrian troops have again assaulted a central rebel bastion in Rastan, according to opposition reports.

News • 15 May 12

Syria peace plan on track - Annan spokesman

A peace plan for Syria brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan is on track despite reports of violations of the ceasefire, Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi has said.

Conflict • 04 May 12

Major General Robert Mood has urged all sides to abide by the ceasefire

20 people killed in Syria bomb blast

More than 20 people have been killed in blasts targeting security buildings in the city of Idlib in northwestern Syria.

News • 30 Apr 12

16 killed in explosion in Hama - report

The Syrian government and rebels traded blame for a huge explosion which killed 16 people in the city of Hama, as a two-week-old UN backed ceasefire looked increasingly fragile.

News • 27 Apr 12

17 people killed in Syria violence

At least 14 civilians and three soldiers have been reported killed in violence across Syria.

News • 25 Apr 12

Kofi Annan says the UN decision on monitors is pivotal for stability in Syria

Annan: UN deployment of Syria monitors pivotal

International mediator Kofi Annan has said that the UN Security Council's decision to deploy a further 300 ceasefire monitors in Syria marked a "pivotal moment for the stabilisation of the country".

News • 23 Apr 12

Protests held in Syria against Bashar al-Assad

Thousands of Syrians have taken part in protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime testing a shaky UN ceasefire, as state media said 18 security personnel were killed in attacks.

News • 20 Apr 12

Members of an advance team of six UN observers

Gunfire erupts as UN observers tour Damascus

Activists in Syria say shooting has broken out during a visit to a Damascus suburb by an advance team of United Nations observers.

News • 18 Apr 12

Syrian protesters take to the streets to test the ceasefire

Six killed on second day of Syrian ceasefire

Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are reported to have shot dead five protesters after Friday prayers.

News • 16 Apr 12