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The Syrian government has agreed to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from cities by April 10. Annan said that if this is carried out he would call for a complete halt to hostilities by "0600 hours Damascus time on Thursday April 12."
"I urge the government and the opposition commanders to issue clear instructions so that the message reaches across the country down to the fighter and soldier at the local level," Annan told the UN General Assembly.
Western governments say they have strong doubts that Assad will comply.
And while Annan said Syria had told him it had started a partial withdrawal from Idlib, Zabadani and Daraa, he had no confirmation.
"It is clear that more far-reaching action is urgently required. Immediate and verifiable steps are needed to complete implementation of commitments in the crucial days ahead," he said.
"Clearly the violence is still continuing. Alarming levels of casualties and other abuses continue to be reported daily," he added.
"We must silence the tanks, helicopters, mortars, guns and stop all other forms of violence too: sexual abuse, torture, executions, abductions, destruction of homes, forced displacement and other abuses including on children."
UN leader Ban Ki-moon said the violence is worsening in Syria.
Despite Syria's acceptance of Annan's six-point peace plan, "the violence and assaults in civilian areas have not stopped. The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate," Ban told the assembly.
"Violence should have stopped months ago," he added.
Annan held talks in Damascus last month with Assad, who subsequently accepted his peace plan which has now been given strong UN Security Council backing.
Just before Annan spoke, the 15-nation Council called on Syria to "urgently" move to keep an April 10 deadline.
Russia, Syria's last major ally, and China agreed on the "presidential statement" which formally approved the April 10 deadline.
The Security Council "calls upon the Syrian government to implement urgently and visibly its commitments" made to Annan to take the steps toward a cessation of hostilities, the statement says.
It calls for Syria to start a two-hour daily pause in hostilities and to allow immediate humanitarian access.
The council said that depending on Annan's reports on what Assad has carried out, it will "consider further steps as appropriate."
The Security Council has been badly divided on Syria. And the new statement was softened at Russia's demand, diplomats involved in the talks said. Russia and China have vetoed two previous full resolutions on Syria.
An initial proposal by Western countries that the council "demands" that Syria pull back its troops and heavy weapons was changed to "calls" and "verifiably" was changed to "visibly."
Diplomats said that the council could face a new battle if Annan says that Syria has failed to keep the agreement and calls for UN sanctions. Russia and China are unlikely to agree any tough measures, they said.
Syria's UN envoy, Bashar Jaafari, said his government was committed to the Annan plan but lashed out at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and western nations for supporting opposition groups.
"We need to get commitments from the Qataris, from the Saudis, from the Turks, from the French, from the USA, that Annan should be given a chance in order to succeed," Jaafari said.
He also demanded a "crystal cut commitment" from Annan that once the government ends violence "the other parties will do the same and will not fill the vacuum" caused by the withdrawal of Syrian forces.
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"I urge the government and the opposition commanders to issue clear instructions so that the message reaches across the country down to the fighter and soldier at the local level," Annan told the UN General Assembly.
Western governments say they have strong doubts that Assad will comply.
And while Annan said Syria had told him it had started a partial withdrawal from Idlib, Zabadani and Daraa, he had no confirmation.
"It is clear that more far-reaching action is urgently required. Immediate and verifiable steps are needed to complete implementation of commitments in the crucial days ahead," he said.
"Clearly the violence is still continuing. Alarming levels of casualties and other abuses continue to be reported daily," he added.
"We must silence the tanks, helicopters, mortars, guns and stop all other forms of violence too: sexual abuse, torture, executions, abductions, destruction of homes, forced displacement and other abuses including on children."
UN leader Ban Ki-moon said the violence is worsening in Syria.
Despite Syria's acceptance of Annan's six-point peace plan, "the violence and assaults in civilian areas have not stopped. The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate," Ban told the assembly.
"Violence should have stopped months ago," he added.
Annan held talks in Damascus last month with Assad, who subsequently accepted his peace plan which has now been given strong UN Security Council backing.
Just before Annan spoke, the 15-nation Council called on Syria to "urgently" move to keep an April 10 deadline.
Russia, Syria's last major ally, and China agreed on the "presidential statement" which formally approved the April 10 deadline.
The Security Council "calls upon the Syrian government to implement urgently and visibly its commitments" made to Annan to take the steps toward a cessation of hostilities, the statement says.
It calls for Syria to start a two-hour daily pause in hostilities and to allow immediate humanitarian access.
The council said that depending on Annan's reports on what Assad has carried out, it will "consider further steps as appropriate."
The Security Council has been badly divided on Syria. And the new statement was softened at Russia's demand, diplomats involved in the talks said. Russia and China have vetoed two previous full resolutions on Syria.
An initial proposal by Western countries that the council "demands" that Syria pull back its troops and heavy weapons was changed to "calls" and "verifiably" was changed to "visibly."
Diplomats said that the council could face a new battle if Annan says that Syria has failed to keep the agreement and calls for UN sanctions. Russia and China are unlikely to agree any tough measures, they said.
Syria's UN envoy, Bashar Jaafari, said his government was committed to the Annan plan but lashed out at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and western nations for supporting opposition groups.
"We need to get commitments from the Qataris, from the Saudis, from the Turks, from the French, from the USA, that Annan should be given a chance in order to succeed," Jaafari said.
He also demanded a "crystal cut commitment" from Annan that once the government ends violence "the other parties will do the same and will not fill the vacuum" caused by the withdrawal of Syrian forces.
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