A Syrian official says Damascus will not pull troops from cities and towns engulfed in the country's unrest before life returns to normal in these areas.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi told state TV yesterday the military is in these cities "in a state of self defence and protecting civilians".

He spoke just hours after the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's office appealed to Syria's government to stop military activities first as "the stronger party" and in a "gesture of good faith".

Syria's uprising began a year ago with peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad's regime. In the face of a fierce crackdown, it has become increasingly militarised. The rebels now demand Assad's ousting.

The UN estimates more than 9,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

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