UNSC to send 300 observers to Syria

The UN security council has voted to dramatically expand its monitoring mission in Syria, paving the way for up to 300 peacekeepers to be deployed to a country which has been brought to the brink of civil war in 13 months of violence.

The UN security council has voted to dramatically expand its monitoring mission in Syria, paving the way for up to 300 peacekeepers to be deployed to a country which has been brought to the brink of civil war in 13 months of violence.

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The resolution called on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as armed opposition groups, to cease all violence and for the government to respect its commitment to the security council to withdraw heavy weapons.

It gives UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon authority to decide when to deploy the additional observers, based on developments on the ground. Ban accused Assad on Thursday of failing to honour a ceasefire agreed earlier this month, and expressed dismay at the upsurge in violence.