15 APRIL 2013

Sources close to U.N. Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi indicated he is preparing to resign by 18 April.

A draft letter is almost ready, listing obstacles faced on the Syrian, Arab, regional and international fronts, with a particular focus on the negative role of the Arab League and lack of serious pressure by big powers on their regional allies. Instead of seriously and effectively working with him -- as promised -- for a political solution, there has been an intensive increase in quality and quantity of arms and armaments, more militant groups are being involved, and more extreme elements on all sides are taking over.

"The magic has turned on the magicians," is an Arab saying that Brahimi knows well as he painfully witnesses the destruction of Syria, a historically central country in the Arab world.