UN Security Council 'discussing next steps on Syria'

UN and Arab League peace Kofi Annan said on Wednesday the UN Security Council was discussing what action it could take next to address the Syria conflict. Annan spoke after addressing the 15-member council by video conference from Geneva and following visits to Syria, Iran and Iraq this week. "The Council is now discussing what the next steps should be and what action they can take," the former UN chief toldjournalists. "We should hear something in the next few days." Envoys said Western powers are poised to present a draft resolution seeking to increase pressure on Assad. In a short question-and-answer session with journalists, Annan said Iran and Iraq were committed in their support of Annan's six-point plan. "They support the idea of a political transition," he said. Annan, who held talks with President Bashar al-Assad this week, was asked if they had discussed the election of an intermediary to begin talks with the opposition to see through the plan aimed at halting the 16-month crisis. "In all frankness, yes we discussed it," Annan said. "He did offer a name. I indicated that I wanted to know a bit about the individual," Annan said, without giving any further details.