Annan: Risk of 'All-Out Civil War' Growing in Syria

Kofi Annan's plan may be Syria's last hope for peace, but Annan himself didn't sound too optimistic today. "The specter of all-out civil war, with a worrying sectarian dimension, grows by the day," the UN envoy told a meeting of the Arab League in Qatar. Bashar al-Assad, he warned, "must make bold and visible steps immediately to radically change his military posture and honor his commitment to withdraw heavy weapons and cease all violence," he said, according to Reuters. "What is important is not the words he uses but the action he takes—now."

In other developments, from the BBC:

• Lebanon: Related fighting broke out in neighboring Lebanon, with Alawite supporters of Assad clashing with Sunni residents of Tripoli. At least seven were killed and scores more injured.
• Syria: Opposition officials say two civilians were killed during an army raid in Damascus, while rebels reportedly killed six soldiers in Deraa.

(More Syria stories.)