(No reporter narration)

President Bashar al-Assad tells U.N./Arab League envoy Kofi Annan on Saturday that no political solution was possible in Syria while "terrorist" groups were destabilising the country.

The Syrian leader held about two hours of talks with the former U.N. secretary-general.

There was no immediate comment from Annan after his meeting with Assad, aimed at halting bloodshed that has cost thousands of lives since a popular uprising erupted a year ago.