Annan renews ceasefire call

International envoy Kofi Annan has renewed his call for a truce in Syria. In a statement issued Sunday, he said he had been shocked by the latest wave of violence in this Middle East country. Under his peace plan, the government must start withdrawing forces from population centres on Tuesday, and the armed opposition must observe a complete ceasefire beginning with Thursday. The government, however, says it cannot withdraw forces as long as it hasn’t received written guarantees that the opposition will hold fire. The opposition refuses to extend any such guarantees.