Assad regime accepts Kofi Annan's peace plan

Damascus - The Syrian government has agreed to a peace plan put forward by UN-Arab envoy Kofi Annan, his spokesman said Tuesday.

The plan calls for an end to the ongoing fighting in the country under a UN-supervised ceasefire.

Annan, a former UN secretary general, described the acceptance of his peace plan by the Syrian government as "an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed", reported the BBC quoting his spokesman.

But implementation was the key, Annan's spokesman said, adding there was hope that this would create the right environment for a political dialogue to fulfil the aspirations of the Syrian people.

The Syrian opposition, however, has dismissed Annan's initiative, saying it will allow the government to continue its repression. The government has been criticised for not keeping earlier promises to reform.

Syria's Bashar al-Assad-led government has been trying to suppress an uprising inspired by events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

According to the UN, thousands of people have been killed in the crackdown, and that many more have been detained and displaced.

The Syrian government says hundreds of security forces personnel have also died combating "armed terrorist gangs".