Kofi Annan, joint envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League, on Thursday called for an immediate end to violence in Syria and warned that any further military acts in the country would worsen the situation.

"The killing has to stop and we need to find a way of putting in their appropriate reforms and moving forward," the former UN secretary-general said after talking with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo.

Annan is expected to fly to the Syrian capital of Damascus on Saturday after meeting with foreign ministers from Arab countries.

"I hope no one is thinking very seriously of using force in this situation. I believe any further militarization will make the situation worse."

The situation in the country is extremely serious for the Syrian people and the region, he said. "I think we should not forget the possible impact of Syria on the region if there is any miscalculation."

For his part, al-Arabi said the Arab League is trying to find a solution with the Syrian government and the opposition.

"What is really needed now is to stop the fighting and to introduce humanitarian assistance, medical assistance and start a political process that will lead to the realization of what the Syrian people would like to have."

"No one wants a repetition of the Libyan scenario," he added.

Meanwhile, visiting UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said on Thursday that she is still waiting for Syria's response to her proposal of independently evaluating the humanitarian situation in the conflict-stricken country.

Amos, who is on a three-day mission in Syria, entered the country's shattered district of Baba Amr on Wednesday. She said she was struck by the "significant devastation" in the rebellious Homs neighborhood.

"That area of Homs is completely destroyed and there are few people still there," said the UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem reiterated the government's commitment to cooperating with the UN mission in Syria "as long as it could respect the country's sovereignty and independence."

According to Turkish media, the Syrian authorities said Thursday they could allow an international Islamic organization to send a delegation to the country for humanitarian relief. It was considered as a positive signal from President Bashar al-Assad's administration.

Officials from the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation said they are waiting for a response from the Syrian government.

The organization has kept talks with Damascus while the Arab League suspended Syria's membership in November last year.

Baba Amr, a key stronghold of the opposition against Assad, has emerged as the epicenter of armed confrontations between Assad's military loyalists and the rebels, who claimed that the district has been under the government's bombardment for more than a month.

However, the Syrian government said it was combating armed terrorist groups and al-Qaida members, who have reportedly infiltrated into Syria and are fighting alongside the opposition.

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UN envoy Kofi Annan stresses political settlement for Syria crisis

CAIRO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN and Arab League's special envoy to Syria Kofi Annan urged an immediate end of violence in the country and stressed the ultimate solution to the crisis lies in a political settlement.Full Story