Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been appointed as the joint United Nations-Arab League envoy on the Syrian crisis, Fox News reported.

Annan's successor, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil ElAraby announced the appointment Thursday, Feb 23 evening.

The announcement said Annan "will provide good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence and human rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis."

It said he will engage with parties inside and outside Syria to end the violence and the humanitarian crisis "and facilitate a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive political solution that meets the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people."