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September 5, 2012

U.N. Envoy: Death Toll "Staggering" in Syria 
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The new United Nations envoy to Syria has warned the country's civil war
has reached "catastrophic proportions." Lakhdar Brahimi, a veteran
Algerian diplomat, issued the warning in his first address to the U.N.
General Assembly since replacing Kofi Annan.

Lakhdar Brahimi: "It has been deteriorating steadily. The death toll is
staggering, the destruction is reaching catastrophic proportions and the
suffering of the people is immense. Mr. President, I am looking forward
to my visit to Damascus in a few days time and also, when convenient and
possible, to all the countries who are in a position to help the
Syrian-led political process become a reality leading to a transition
that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and
enables them independently and democratically to determine their own
future.