Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan arrives in Syria in an attempt to end a bloody 14-month conflict in the pariah state.<br/> <br />Annan is acting as a peace envoy for the UN and the Arab League.<br/> <br />He called on Syrian officials to stopl fighting that's left thousands dead.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY KOFI ANNAN<br/> <br />"I urge the government to take bold steps to signal its intention to resolve this crisis peacefully."<br/> <br />Annan's arrival comes at an especially sensitive time.<br/> <br />Last week, 108 civilians were killed by what activists say was a brutal attack by government troops in the town of Houla.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY KOFI ANNAN<br/> <br />"The Security Council has requested the United Nations to continue to investigate the attacks in Houla. Those responsible for these brutal crimes must be held to account."<br/> <br />Earlier this year, Annan helped negotiate a truce between rebels and the government of Bashar al-Assad.<br/> <br />But that ceasefire has proven shaky, and several cities continue to be wracked by violence.<br/> <br />Andrew Raven, Reuters
