Impasse

Assad Plays 'Terrorists' Card

In talks with Kofi Annan

U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday in Damascus in an effort to get the Syrian regime to end its yearlong crackdown on dissidents. But Assad told Annan that dialogue with the opposition will not work when "armed terrorist groups" are operating. On the other end, the head of the opposition Syrian National Council has already turned down Annan's request for talks with Assad, similarly saying that negotiations with a "murderous" government are pointless. But a member of the opposition is due to meet Annan in the afternoon. Activists say at least 12 people were killed today as government forces continued attacks across the country, including in the northern province of Idlib.