Assad responds to Annan in secret letter

Syria has responded to a peaceful proposal of UN special envoy Kofi Annan. Syria’s response has not been published and is being studied at the UN headquarters, NTV reports.

Annan concluded his two-day visit to Damascus on Sunday. He met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and presented a plan of immediate cease-fire, keeping details a secret.

Syrian forces have recently taken control of Idlib, a city in the north under control of the rebels for about a year. Rebel artillery failed to stop the army.

The UN plans to send observers to Syria to investigate crimes committed by both sides of conflict. Human rights activists will meet inhabitants of cities attacked.

Al-Assad announced parliamentary polls in early May. They will be the first ones after passing of the new Constitution. The Syrian crisis is also one of the main topics of the Russian parliament. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented a report on Syria at the government hour.