UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Friday confirmed that veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi will replace former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the  nternational mediator on Syria as the 17-month-old conflict slides deeper into civil war.

"The Secretary-General appreciates Mr. Brahimi's willingness to bring his considerable talents and experience to this crucial task for which he will need, and rightly expects, the strong,
clear and unified support of the international community, including the Security Council," said U.N. spokesman Eduardo del Buey.

The announcement confirmed what diplomats told Reuters on Thursday. AGENCIES