China says Annan's Syria efforts more important than ever

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China says Annan's Syria efforts more important than ever

Reuters | June 08, 2012 | 04:02 AM EDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China called on Friday for both sides in Syria to end violence and observe a peace plan put forward by U.N. envoy Kofi Annan, whose efforts were now more important than ever, as the clamor grows to back tougher action against the Syrian government.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described as "unspeakable barbarity" the reported killing of at least 78 villagers by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and warned that a civil war was imminent.

Ban said hopes for consolidating the peace plan were fading and Annan himself warned the U.N. Security Council that the crisis in Syria could soon spiral out of control, diplomats said. Annan, Ban's predecessor as U.N. secretary-general, called for "substantial pressure" on Damascus to stop the violence.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin did not answer repeated questions about whether China endorses Annan's call for substantial pressure, but said both sides in Syria should stop the fighting.

"I think the Syrian government and opposition should both truly shoulder their responsibility and cease fire and halt violence," Liu told a daily news briefing. "Both sides have this responsibility because they both undertook this commitment.

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