Kofi Annan announced he was stepping down as the Joint Special Envoy on Syria, because the "clear lack of unity" of the UN Security Council "fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role."

Kofi Annan criticised the UN Security Council for 'finger-pointing and name calling' when it should have been working for peace in Syria.

He said he accepted the role when it seemed that the international community would be led by the UN Security Council to help end the violence and enact his six point plan to bring peace and political transition, but that he cannot continue when the council provides him with no backing.

Kofi Annan quits role as UN's Syria envoy