Russia said on Friday that former UN envoy o Syria Kofi Annan, who quit his post on Thursday, should be replaced urgently.

Russia said on Friday that former UN envoy o Syria Kofi Annan, who quit his post on Thursday, should be replaced urgently.

"A worthy candidate to succeed Kofi Annan should be urgently found," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
"In the developing situation, keeping a UN presence in the country acquires special significance."

Annan, who was the United Nations' and the Arab League's Syria envoy since February, resigned his post on Thursday blaming world powers for not giving enough backing to his peace drive.

"At this stage, what is most important is not to allow the slackening of international efforts to solve the crisis in Syria," the foreign ministry said.
It called the UN mission in Syria "an important factor in securing international support for the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people to themselves determine ways for their country's independent democratic development."

On the other hand, Moscow said that the Syrian opposition and West and Arab states that support it had rejected all proposal offered in order to end the ongoing crisis in Syria.

"Unfortunately, the Syrian opposition has consistently rejected all proposals to establish political dialogue. Our Western partners, (and) some regional states which could have influenced the opposition, have done nothing," the statement said.