Syrian opposition activists are rejecting calls from former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for dialogue with the Syrian government. Annan, now the joint United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria, warned against military intervention on Thursday and said a resolution to the Syria conflict lies in a “political settlement.” But Syrian dissidents have rejected Annan’s comments as a “disappointment,” saying there’s no room for dialogue as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carries on with attacks on opposition strongholds. Also Thursday, U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos spoke of witnessing widespread devastation during her brief tour of the former rebel stronghold of Baba Amr in Homs.

Valerie Amos: “The devastation there is significant. That part of Homs is completely destroyed, and I’m concerned to know what has happened to the people who lived in that part of the city. It’s a very interesting country. Of course I was devastated by what I saw in Baba Amr yesterday.”