Syria says opposition group not committed to Annan plan

TEHRAN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Sunday that the armed opposition groups are not committed to their obligations to implement the UN-Arab League joint envoy for Syria Kofi Annan.

Al-Muallem made the remarks in a joint press conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi in Tehran.

"We consider this (Annan's) plan a reasonable plan and we have cooperation with Mr. Annan to fulfill it," he said, adding "the most important issues in this plan are how to reach ending of violence from any side and political dialogue led by the Syrians," he added.

"Unfortunately, I said unfortunately, as the Syrian government, we were committed to ending this violence and withdrawing heavy arms from the big cities since April 12, (but) unfortunately the armed groups failed to commit themselves (to these arrangements)," he went on.

Muallem also said that regional powers behind the oppositions are not committed to these arrangements, "because of this, the violence has increased (in Syria)."

Al-Muallem arrived in Tehran on Sunday for talks with senior Iranian officials.

Muallem is scheduled to hold talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili.

The talks focus on the recent developments in Syria as well as bilateral relations between Tehran and Damascus. Enditem