Speaking from Cairo, the U.N.-Arab League special envoy on Syria, Kofi Annan, rejected any foreign intervention against President Bashar al-Assad's government.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N.-ARAB LEAGUE SPECIAL ENVOY ON SYRIA KOFI ANNAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I believe any further militarisation will make the situation worse. We have to be careful that we don't introduce a medicine that is worse than the disease. We don't have to go very far in the region to find an example of what I am talking about."<br/> <br />Annan was speaking after talks with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, who said no-one wanted a repeat of the Libya scenario in which NATO airstrikes were instrumental in toppling Muammar Gaddafi.<br/> <br />Both Annan and Elaraby stressed that the people of Syria are in a dire situation, but that the solutions should be Syrian led.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, NABIL ELARABY, SAYING:<br/> <br />"What is needed now, really, is to stop the fighting, to introduce the humanitarian assistance, medical assistance, and to start a political process that will lead to the realisation of what the people in Syria would like to have."<br/> <br />An Arab League initiative calling for Assad to step down has been cited in a U.N. General Assembly resolution, but this is not binding.<br/> <br />Some Arab states, mostly Saudi-led Gulf nations, have said they are prepared to arm the Syrian rebels if no political solution is found soon.<br/> <br />Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
