On 2 August 2012, Kofi Annan announced to step down as UN-Arab League mediator in Syria on 31 August. Annan pointed to the Syrian government’s refusal to implement the six-point plan, the escalating military campaign of the Syrian opposition and the lack of unity in the UN Security Council as causes for the bloodshed to continue.Both Russia and the Syrian government said they regretted Annan’s decision to quit.