He had come to power in similar fashion. An 88-member observer team from the Southern African Development Community praised the election for its peace and credibility and high degree of tolerance.

VOA: standard.2009.10.19

The U.N. observer mission is tasked to monitor the cease-fire and the peace plan.

CNN: 7 dead as Syrian troops storm Aleppo University

Meanwhile, the mandate of the U.N. observer mission that had been tasked to monitor Annan's six-point peace plan, which included a failed ceasefire, ends on Sunday.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Last month, the United Nations wound up the observer mission that had been tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in Syria under the six-point peace plan negotiated by Mr Annan.

BBC: UN envoy Brahimi says Syria mission 'nearly impossible'