India urges world to remain engaged in Syria

While the US and its allies reacted with anger to United Nations negotiator Kofi Annan's resignation, India on Thursday urged the international community to remain engaged in Syria. Yashwant Raj reports.

While the US and its allies reacted with anger to United Nations negotiator Kofi Annan's resignation, India on Thursday urged the international community to remain engaged in Syria.

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India would have liked Annan to "persevere", but if he is giving up, the international community mustn't consider that as the end of the road, as some people seem to be suggesting.

"The international community, anchored in the United Nations, cannot however, walk away from its obligations towards Syria," said Hardeep Singh Puri, India's permanent representative to UN.

"We will need to work out arrangements that can be put in place post-August 20, 2012, when the mandate of the UN mission to Syria concludes," he added.

As a temporary member of the Security Council, India has been for an inclusive political solution, arguing against outside intervention.

India supported Annan's mission and his six-point plan.

But it is loathe to support any attempt by outside forces to take sides in the conflict - it has held both the government and the rebels responsible for the ongoing violence.

The US and its allies, however, have repeatedly called for Bashar al-Assad's ouster and are backing the rebels with non-lethal aid and support.