Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a diplomatic solution to the continued bloodshed in Syria.<br />
<br />
Speaking in Cairo, Annan, the current UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, warned against calls to arm Syrian rebels, saying "further militarization" would make the situation worse.<br />
<br />
Annan's comments came as Libya's prime minister denied allegations by Russia his transitional government is training and arming Syrian rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.<br />
<br />
The UN says 7,500 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in the year-long government crackdown on anti-Assad protesters.<br />
<br />
Syria's deputy oil minister became the highest-ranking government official to <strong><a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/oil_deputy_minister_hussameldin_first_high_ranking_syrian_defection_video/24508794.html" target="_blank">announce his defection</a></strong>, saying he was "joining the revolution of the people" and that he expected other officials to soon follow.<br />
<br />
<h6>
With AP and AFP reports</h6>
