UN Syria special envoy arrives in Damascus DAMASCUS, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy to Syria Staffa de Mistura arrived in the capital Damascus Saturday afternoon for a three-day visit during which he will meet with top Syrian officials. The special envoy arrived in the Sheraton hotel in the heart of Damascus accompanied by Syria's deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad. According to some sources, de Mistura will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials. He is also expected to meet with Syria-based opposition figures. The newly-appointed envoy has recently voiced a plan that involves halting fighting in certain areas in Syria, mainly in the northern province of Aleppo. Yet the plan is criticized by both the rebels and the authorities alike. The envoy is expected to discuss his plan with Syrian officials during his visit.