As Kofi Annan quits as the UN's envoy to Syria, we ask if there is still hope for a diplomatic solution.
The UN General Assembly has recently passed a resolution condemning the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, criticising its Security Council for remaining divided on the issue.
The resolution was strongly opposed by a number of countries, including Russia and China - the two major powers that have repeatedly used their vetoes in the Security Council to block real action on the Syrian issue.
"No, I don't think it's an end, sooner or later the whole affair will end with a negotiated settlement, we had a civil war in Lebanon that continued for 14 years and it ended with a settlement ... the end was some kind of truce between warring parties and that is exactly what Moscow would like to see in Syria."
But the international bickering came to a head at the UN, leading to Kofi Annan's resignation as special envoy to Syria. The move is viewed by many as a collapse of diplomatic hope on the country that been in a violent deadlock for over a year.
Meanwhile, a Saudi-backed resolution has been passed, slamming the Syrian government for its use of violence outraging the Syrians.
Bashar Jaafari, Syria's UN ambassador, said: "This draught has no impact whatsoever. On the contrary, it will help the Syrian government increase its serious efforts in order to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Syrian domestic crisis which is not anymore domestic as you know. It has an international dimension and a regional dimension and a very negative Arab dimension."
The Arab dimension he mentions are a throw to Syria's stance that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are arming the rebels to increase Sunni control in the region.
Thus far, civilians and opposition fighters in Aleppo have faced the most serious and sustained shelling yet as some contend the main battle for control of Syria's second city is well underway. The rebels reportedly control around one-third of the city.
But with neither the Syrian Army nor the rebels showing any signs of backing down an apparently permanent and bloody stalemate may be looming.
And however heated the arguments at the UN headquarters in New York become, now that diplomacy has lost a key player, the war will continue to drag on.
Is there any hope of a diplomatic solution with the resignation of Kofi Annan? Why did Kofi Annan fail in Syria? And is it a hopeless task to try to negotiate peace in Syria at this point?
Inside Syria, with presenter Mike Hanna, discusses with guests: Louay Safi, a member of the Syrian National Council; David Mack, a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs; and Dimitri Babich, a political analyst and writer for the news website 'Voice of Russia'.
"I think that it is a blow to diplomatic efforts. You always want to have an experienced, qualified mediator who can talk to all parties but it does not mean that it will be impossible. The United States has made clear that it will continue to deal with governments in the international community that are trying to achieve some kind of peaceful, negotiated resolution."
David Mack, a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs
The UN General Assembly has recently passed a resolution condemning the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, criticising its Security Council for remaining divided on the issue.
The resolution was strongly opposed by a number of countries, including Russia and China - the two major powers that have repeatedly used their vetoes in the Security Council to block real action on the Syrian issue.
"No, I don't think it's an end, sooner or later the whole affair will end with a negotiated settlement, we had a civil war in Lebanon that continued for 14 years and it ended with a settlement ... the end was some kind of truce between warring parties and that is exactly what Moscow would like to see in Syria."
But the international bickering came to a head at the UN, leading to Kofi Annan's resignation as special envoy to Syria. The move is viewed by many as a collapse of diplomatic hope on the country that been in a violent deadlock for over a year.
Meanwhile, a Saudi-backed resolution has been passed, slamming the Syrian government for its use of violence outraging the Syrians.
Bashar Jaafari, Syria's UN ambassador, said: "This draught has no impact whatsoever. On the contrary, it will help the Syrian government increase its serious efforts in order to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Syrian domestic crisis which is not anymore domestic as you know. It has an international dimension and a regional dimension and a very negative Arab dimension."
The Arab dimension he mentions are a throw to Syria's stance that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are arming the rebels to increase Sunni control in the region.
Thus far, civilians and opposition fighters in Aleppo have faced the most serious and sustained shelling yet as some contend the main battle for control of Syria's second city is well underway. The rebels reportedly control around one-third of the city.
But with neither the Syrian Army nor the rebels showing any signs of backing down an apparently permanent and bloody stalemate may be looming.
And however heated the arguments at the UN headquarters in New York become, now that diplomacy has lost a key player, the war will continue to drag on.
Is there any hope of a diplomatic solution with the resignation of Kofi Annan? Why did Kofi Annan fail in Syria? And is it a hopeless task to try to negotiate peace in Syria at this point?
Inside Syria, with presenter Mike Hanna, discusses with guests: Louay Safi, a member of the Syrian National Council; David Mack, a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs; and Dimitri Babich, a political analyst and writer for the news website 'Voice of Russia'.
"I think that it is a blow to diplomatic efforts. You always want to have an experienced, qualified mediator who can talk to all parties but it does not mean that it will be impossible. The United States has made clear that it will continue to deal with governments in the international community that are trying to achieve some kind of peaceful, negotiated resolution."
David Mack, a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for near east affairs
