UN envoy Brahimi says Syria mission 'nearly impossible'

The new UN-Arab League envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has given a deeply pessimistic view of the task ahead of him, as he takes up his new post.

The new international envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi,
tells Lyse Doucet why he is "scared" of his role 

Speaking to the BBC, the Algerian described his mission as "nearly impossible".Mr Brahimi, a seasoned UN diplomat, was appointed after his predecessor, Kofi Annan, resigned, saying he no longer saw a way to fulfil his mission.Fighting in Syria has escalated, despite a truce mediated by Mr Annan.

Activists say 20,000 people have died since the uprising against the Syrian government began last March. On Sunday, the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 5,000 people were killed in August alone.