DAMASCUS - UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan is set to arrive in Syria soon, an official source told Xinhua Sunday.

Annan will arrive for a brief visit that will last for less than 24 hours, the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that Annan will hold talks with some Syrian officials.

No more details could be obtained about the exact timing of Annan's upcoming visit to the unrest-hit country.

Annan said Saturday that the international community's efforts to bring the 16-months unrest in Syria to an end politically have failed.

Annan made the remarks during an interview with French daily Le Monde.

"The evidence shows that we have not succeeded," he said.

He noted that the divisions between regional and world powers over how to resolve the Syrian issue were making the situation worse.

Annan offered a few suggestions on how the peace plan could be salvaged. In an earlier interview with the Guardian he suggested that Iran have a role to play in resolving the crisis.