Peace envoy: Syria crisis poses 'threat to world'

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned after meeting President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday that the worsening conflict in Syria poses a threat to the region and the world at large. "The crisis is dangerous and getting worse, and it is a threat to the Syrian people, the region and the world," said the newly-appointed Brahimi, who took over earlier this month from former UN chief Kofi Annan. "We will make a great effort to make progress, and do our best ... to help the Syrian people," he said. "The Syrian government has promised to help the (envoy's) office in Damascus to do its work well," said Brahimi, referring to the office headed by diplomat Mokhtar Lamani. "We will be in touch with countries that have interests and influence in the Syrian issue," he added. They include Western nations -- chiefly the United States -- and Gulf countries which have long called for the fall of Assad, and regime supporters Russia and China.