BEIRUT // Lakhdar Brahimi, the international peace envoy, called for a temporary ceasefire in Syria during Eid Al Adha, a statement said today.
"Lakhdar Brahimi has appealed to the Iranian authorities to assist in achieving a ceasefire in Syria during the forthcoming Eid Al Adha, one of the holiest holidays celebrated by the Muslims around the world," it said.
Mr Brahimi "underlined that the crisis in Syria was getting worse every day and stressed the urgent need to stop the bloodshed," it continued.
"He reiterated the call by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a ceasefire and a halt to the flow of arms to both sides. A ceasefire, he said, would help create an environment that would allow a political process to develop."
The call came as Mr Brahimi concluded a trip to Tehran, where he met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister, and top security official Saeed Jalili.
The envoy is on his second regional tour aimed at finding a solution to the 19-month conflict in Syria after Damascus rejected a UN call to implement a unilateral ceasefire.
He met with officials in Saudi Arabia and Turkey last week and is due to visit Iraq later today.
