United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to immediately implement the UN's six-point program to end violence.

"I urge President Assad to carry out these obligations immediately," stated Ban. He made the comments at a press conference in the Persian Gulf country of Kuwait. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is being sent as a special envoy to attempt to quell violence between the forces of President Assad and rival factions who are seeking to oust him.