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Former chief of the global body and the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has echoed Mr Ban’s sentiments as violence continues to rage in the Levant, despite the UN-sponsored truce. In comments reported on Tuesday Ban Ki-moon criticised the “brutality” of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while the UN head noted that attacks by opposition groups have also increased. Recent parliamentary elections — boycotted by the opposition and labelled a farce by many — were held amidst reports of shelling and gunfire by Syrian troops, though state media hailed the polls as a milestone. Clashes have continued despite the presence of UN observers in Syria.