Kofi Annan: Need calm engagement from leaders on Syria

The former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said he was worried about the use of language by world leaders over Syria.

He told Hardtalk's Zeinab Badawi: "I think they have to find a way of engaging in a calm way and preferably behind the scenes. The sort of language that is being thrown around coming from leaders is really unimaginable."

All it would take would be a miscalculation or mistake and "all bets are off" on any possible outcome, he said, warning there were many proxy wars going on in Syria and some had nothing to do with the Syrians.

"We should be careful not to point fingers only at the Russians. There are quite a few other players in the theatre," he added.

Russia warns of 'dangerous' escalation over Syria

Syria: What can Western military intervention achieve?

This is an archive interview, which was conducted by Hardtalk in April 2018.