As peace envoy to war-worn Syria Lakhdar Brahimi arrives in Damascus to try and persuade the warring factions to implement a temporary ceasefire over the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
The festivities start in a week and Brahimi has been criss-crossing the region trying to convince those backing President Bashar al-Assad and those against him to support a truce.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR TO SYRIA, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, SAYING:
"We will talk about the ceasefire and the Syrian issue in general. It is important to decrease the violence - we will talk with the government and political parties and civil society about the Syrian issue."
The U.N.-Arab League envoy is scheduled to meet the Syrian Foreign Minister on Saturday. It is unclear whether he will meet Assad himself.
If implemented next week's truce would be self-imposed, with no international observers.
