“The peace plan ... suits the regime perfectly,” said Rime Allaf, an associate fellow and Syria expert at London’s Chatham House think-tank.

“Kofi Annan gave the regime a chance to shift the blame. (Assad) now doesn’t have to worry about pressure and has bought time,” said Allaf, describing the plan as a reworked version of a failed Arab League initiative but places more responsibility on the disparate rebels to stop shooting.