US offers full support to Brahimi, special envoy for Syria

Brahimi replaces Kofi Annan, who resigned after he failed to make any headway to resolve Syrian crisis

US has offered full support and co-operation to newly appointed UN-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, welcoming his appointment.

Brahimi replaces Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, who resigned recently after he failed to make any headway to resolve the current Syrian crisis.

"My message to Special Envoy Brahimi is simple: The United States stands ready to support you and secure a lasting peace that upholds the legitimate aspirations for a representative government of the people of Syria," Clinton said in a statement yesterday.

She welcomed the decision by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and League of Arab States Secretary General Nabil El Araby to appoint a new Joint Special Representative for Syria yesterday.

"Lakhdar Brahimi will continue the pursuit of an end to the conflict and a peaceful transition in Syria.

"Five months ago, Kofi Annan agreed to take on the serious task of trying to bring an end to the brutal violence and forge a path toward a peaceful transition and a post-Assad Syria that is inclusive and representative of all Syrians. We are grateful for Mr Annan's service," she said.

Clinton said the international community remains fully committed to a Syrian-led political transition leading to a pluralistic political system representing the will of the people.

The international community is also committed to ensuring that those who commit atrocities will be identified and held accountable, she added.

Earlier the White House Deputy Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, said Brahimi is a capable and seasoned diplomat, well known to the international community.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with the UN to support an end to the bloodshed in Syria and the advancement of a Syrian-led and internationally supported political transition," he said.

However, he insisted that the American view on the Syrian political transition has not changed.

"Our position and our view about the solution to this problem hasn't changed -- that it's time for President Assad to step down and to allow this political transition to move forward," he said.

"And that is the fastest way for us to achieve our ultimate goal, which is ending the violence in Syria, the terrible violence that President Assad has perpetrated on his own people, and move to a more stable Syrian government that reflects the wishes of the Syrian people," Earnest stressed.