UN Team To Monitor Syria's Fragile Ceasefire

The UN Security Council has unanimously voted in favour of sending a team of monitors into Syria to observe the ceasefire amid reports of fresh violence.

The vote, made on a Western-Arab UN draft resolution, comes two days after the truce between the Syrian government and anti-regime protesters began.

Resolution 2042 calls on President Bashar al Assad's regime to allow access for the first wave of monitors. Up to 30 unarmed military observers are expected to leave within days.

A new resolution with a full mandate will be required for the full monitoring mission of more than 200 observers.

The Council has also threatened to consider "further steps" if Syria does not "implement visibly" all its commitments under UN special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

It includes the withdrawal of all troops and heavy guns from Syrian cities, permitting humanitarian and media access, releasing prisoners and discussing a political transition. Read More