Annan to brief UN Council on Syria on Friday

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is due to brief the UN Security Council on Friday about his peace mission to Syria where pro-democracy protests have deteriorated into bloody turmoil.

Council diplomats say that Annan's assessment of the crisis will be crucial to a bid by the United States and its European allies to pass a resolution on Syria. Russia and China have already twice vetoed draft resolutions condemning Syria. (Reuters)