UN names replacement for Annan on peace envoy to Syria

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations has announced that Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi will replace Kofi Annan as peace envoy to Syria.

U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey announced Friday that the former Algerian foreign minister and longtime U.N. official would succeed Annan as joint U.N.-Arab League envoy.

The 78-year-old Brahimi has worked in several high-profile positions at the U.N., gaining a reputation as a tough, independent negotiator as envoy to Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti. He helped negotiate the end of Lebanon's civil war.

Brahimi is a member of the Elders, a group of former world leaders working for global peace.

Annan announced his resignation earlier this month after failing to achieve a temporary cease-fire during a six-month tenure.

The Security Council announced Thursday it would end the U.N. military observer mission in Syria.