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Roundup: Iran says foreign intervention in Syria spells failure of Annan's peace plan

TEHRAN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran said Friday that foreign intervention in Syria was the cause of the failure of the UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that "It seems that some interfering countries were not happy with the efforts made by Annan to stop the shipment of arms to Syria and end terrorist acts," the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"All those countries in favor of stability and security in the Middle East should make a joint effort to bring calm to Syria and pave the way for resolving the issue through Syrian-Syrian talks between the government and the opposition," Mehmanparast added.

Also, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Friday that the United States is playing blame game over the resignation of UN-Arab League joint special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan, press TV reported.

"The United States is playing blame game (over Annan's resignation)," Salehi said, rebuking the Western countries and certain regional states for sabotaging Annan's plan and seeking to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and replace it with an unspecified government.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Annan's failure in ending the violence and bloodshed in Syria was due to the UN Security Council being "blocked from giving him key tools to advance his efforts."

However, the Iranian foreign minister said that "Annan's six- point plan was acceptable to Syria and key regional players, but the other side did not allow Annan to successfully implement his plan."

Annan said Thursday he was disappointed over the lack of progress in the Syrian peace process and he would step down after his current mandate expires on Aug. 31.

He noted that without united international pressure it is impossible for him or anyone else to compel the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to take necessary steps to begin the political process.

On Friday, Tehran's interim Friday Prayers leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, condemned the interference of foreign countries in the Arab state's internal affairs, according to Press TV,

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs left for Moscow Friday for talks with Russian officials on the latest developments in Syria, Mehr reported. Enditem

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