Arab League envoy Kofi Annan

A US-drafted UN Security Council statement would step up the pressure on Syria by ordering it to comply with an April 10 deadline to halt fighting and withdraw its forces from Syrian population centers. U.N. Arab League envoy Kofi Annan told the council on Monday that the Syrian government had accepted the deadline, adding that he would push for an end of rebel operations within 48 hours after the government stops fighting and pulls its forces back. Annan urged the council to support the deadline. In response to Annan's request, the United States drafted a so-called "presidential statement" endorsing the timeline for ending a year-long conflict in Syria that has killed thousands. U.N. diplomats say it could be adopted by the council on Thursday.