International mediator Kofi Annan said on Sunday an "unacceptable" escalation in violence in Syria violated guarantees made to him and called on Damascus to keep its promises to end the bloodshed. The special envoy for the United Nations and Arab League urged both Syrian forces and opposition fighters to halt all forms of violence by 6 a.m Damascus time (0300 GMT) on April 12, in line with his six-point peace plan agreed on March 27, according to a report of Reuters. "I am shocked by recent reports of a surge in violence and atrocities in several towns and villages in Syria, resulting in alarming levels of casualties, refugees and displaced persons, in violation of assurances given to me," Annan said in a statement issued by his Geneva office.
