Syrian President: 'Terrorist' activity blocks solution Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has told visiting UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, that no political solution is possible in Syria while "terrorist" groups are destabilising the country. Assad said his country was ready for "any honest effort" to end a year of unrest but blamed "terrorist groups" for blocking a solution. "Syria is ready to make a success of any honest effort to find a solution for the events it is witnessing," state news agency SANA quoted Assad as telling his guest. Violence in Syria has cost thousands of lives since a popular uprising erupted a year ago. Annan's trip to Damascus followed a visit of UN Aid chief Valerie Amos in which she requested an assessment of the situation in a number of areas.