Syria president talks of "step by step" ending of violence Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has suggested a "step by step" approach to ending the violent conflict with the opposition. Speaking at a meeting in Tehran, international envoy Kofi Annan revealed that he and Assad discussed halting the violence one district at a time at their meeting in Damascus on Monday. Annan refused to give any further details, saying the plan would also have to be agreed by the opposition. Before leaving Tehran for a meeting in Baghdad, he said Iran could play a role in helping to find a solution in Syria. In the meantime, the violence continues. Unverified amateur footage claims to show Homs" Rastan neighbourhood under government attack for the fourth day in a row. At least 17,129 people have been killed in the 16-month conflict, according to the London-based pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.