<p> Russia and Western powers locked horns over a peace plan for Syria on Saturday as UN mediator Kofi Annan warned the conflict could spread across the West Asia and beyond.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Foreign ministers and international diplomats were meeting in Geneva with governments still in dispute over whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, condemned in the West but still backed by Russia, could have any role in a political transition.<br /><br />“The Russians have set out a series of objections with the current draft. The Russians are stonewalling quite a bit,” a Western diplomat told Reuters as the talks paused for lunch.<br />“A redraft of the text is looking likely,” she said, referring to Annan’s draft proposal.<br /><br />Annan, the former UN chief and the special international envoy on Syria, is hoping for consensus on a plan for a unity government that would exclude controversial figures from leadership — effectively meaning Assad would step down.<br /><br />“We are here to agree on guidelines and principles for a Syrian-led political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” he said in opening remarks.<br />“No one should be in any doubt as to the extreme dangers posed by the conflict — to Syrians, to the region, and to the world.”<br /><br />His appeal gave a note of urgency to the need for world powers to move closer in their positions as the 16-month-old conflict in Syria deepens. His plan for a negotiated solution is the only one on the table.<br /><br />Moscow objects to any solution imposed on Syria from outside. The United States and its European and Arab allies see no way ahead while power remains in Assad’s hands.<br /><br />As the diplomats gathered at the UN complex by the shores of Lake Geneva, the Syrian army rained mortar fire on pro-opposition areas in Deir al-Zor, Homs, Idlib and the outskirts of Damascus, opposition activists said.<br /><br />Government troops were fighting rebels of the Free Syria Army in several places. Syrias border with Turkey was also tense following a Turkish military build-up in response to Syrias shooting down of a Turkish warplane last week.<br /><br />More than 10,000 people have been killed since the anti-Assad uprising broke out and the past few weeks have been among the bloodiest.<br /></p>
<p> Russia and Western powers locked horns over a peace plan for Syria on Saturday as UN mediator Kofi Annan warned the conflict could spread across the West Asia and beyond.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Foreign ministers and international diplomats were meeting in Geneva with governments still in dispute over whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, condemned in the West but still backed by Russia, could have any role in a political transition.<br /><br />“The Russians have set out a series of objections with the current draft. The Russians are stonewalling quite a bit,” a Western diplomat told Reuters as the talks paused for lunch.<br />“A redraft of the text is looking likely,” she said, referring to Annan’s draft proposal.<br /><br />Annan, the former UN chief and the special international envoy on Syria, is hoping for consensus on a plan for a unity government that would exclude controversial figures from leadership — effectively meaning Assad would step down.<br /><br />“We are here to agree on guidelines and principles for a Syrian-led political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” he said in opening remarks.<br />“No one should be in any doubt as to the extreme dangers posed by the conflict — to Syrians, to the region, and to the world.”<br /><br />His appeal gave a note of urgency to the need for world powers to move closer in their positions as the 16-month-old conflict in Syria deepens. His plan for a negotiated solution is the only one on the table.<br /><br />Moscow objects to any solution imposed on Syria from outside. The United States and its European and Arab allies see no way ahead while power remains in Assad’s hands.<br /><br />As the diplomats gathered at the UN complex by the shores of Lake Geneva, the Syrian army rained mortar fire on pro-opposition areas in Deir al-Zor, Homs, Idlib and the outskirts of Damascus, opposition activists said.<br /><br />Government troops were fighting rebels of the Free Syria Army in several places. Syrias border with Turkey was also tense following a Turkish military build-up in response to Syrias shooting down of a Turkish warplane last week.<br /><br />More than 10,000 people have been killed since the anti-Assad uprising broke out and the past few weeks have been among the bloodiest.<br /></p>