Syrians Agree to Lakhdar Brahimi's Bid as Annan's Successor

The Syrians have agreed to the candidacy of Algeria's Lakhdar Brahimi as successor to Kofi Annan, who has resigned as the United Nations and Arab League mediator in Syria, Annan's spokesman said Tuesday.

"I was asked if it was true that the Syrians had consented to his candidacy and I said yes," said Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi.

"No decision has been made yet, by him or by the Secretary-General" Ban Ki-moon, added the spokesman.

Annan announced on August 2 that he is quitting as Syria envoy because of the lack of international support for his peace plan.

U.N. diplomats have said Algeria's former foreign minister Brahimi, 78 -- who served as U.N. envoy to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks and in Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion -- has been tipped to replace Annan.