United Nations special envoy Kofi Annan has arrived in Syria for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Mr. Annan's visit Sunday comes the day after the former U.N. chief admitted that the international efforts to stem the bloodshed in Syria have failed.

Mr. Annan is the architect of the most prominent international plan to end the 16-month crisis.

Also Sunday, Syrian state media announced the start of large-scale military drills along the country's coast to practice how to repel an attack by sea.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the French news agency that violence across the country killed at least 35 people, including 17 civilians.