UN agrees on Annan's Syria peace plan Picture released by the United Nations in Geneva shows UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan (R) meeti...

UN agrees on Annan's Syria peace plan

Picture released by the United Nations in Geneva shows UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan (R) meeting Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on March 20, 2012 at the UN offices in Geneva. The UN Security Council on Wednesday agreed on a statement to boost Annan's peace bid in Syria, diplomats in New York said, as activists said the army pounded a rebel-held area of Homs city. (AFP Photo/Fabrice Arlot)

The UN Security Council on Wednesday agreed on a statement to boost envoy Kofi Annan's peace bid in Syria, diplomats in New York said.

UN chief Ban said in a speech to a defence conference in the Indonesian capital that Annan, who held talks in Damascus on March 10-11 and briefed the Security Council last week, was "working tirelessly."

The prepared text of Ban's speech released to media in Jakarta said Annan was expected to return soon to Damascus. The line was removed from the speech as delivered, and Ban did not give any timeframe for a return.

Martin Nesirky, a spokesman for Ban, told AFP: "The joint special envoy's technical team is still in Damascus, and he is still waiting to hear more details from them before he decides on his travel plans."

Ban, urging unity, told his Jakarta audience that the United Nations had three major priorities in Syria.

These were "an immediate end to the violence -- all violence", an "inclusive political dialogue" to shape the country's future, "and thirdly we have to provide, immediately and urgently, humanitarian access".

"We all have a responsibility to work for a resolution of this profound and extremely dangerous situation and crisis," Ban said. The situation was "a crisis that has potentially massive repercussions" for the region.

(Agencies)