Damascus to approve Algerian candidate for UN special envoy to Syria

Syria will approve Algerian former Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi as the UN and LAS special envoy for Syria, RIA Novosti cites Ahmad Favzi, spokesman of current special envoy Kofi Annan.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will announce the candidate in a few days. Brahimi is considered one of the most likely people to take the position.

The 78-year old former minister was a special envoy of the UN to Iraq, Afghanistan and South Africa. Other candidates are former Secretary General of NATO Javier Solana, former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari and former Foreign Minister of Spain Miguel Moratinos.

Annan’s resignation was announced in early August. He noted that his peace mission did not get the support it needed.

The conflict in Syria has been ongoing since March 2011.