UN observer urges end to Syria unrest

General Mood arrived in Damascus on Sunday to take charge of the UN observer mission tasked with monitoring a ceasefire in Syria that took effect on April 12.

The ceasefire was part of a six-point peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan in March.

“To achieve the success of the Kofi Annan plan, I call on all sides to stop violence and help us continue the cessation of armed violence,” the Norwegian general said in a press conference upon arrival in Damascus.

“We will work for the full implementation of the six-point Annan plan which the Syrian government agreed to. To achieve this, we now have 30 monitors on the ground, and in the coming days we will double this figure.”

The first group of the UN observers arrived in Damascus late on April 15. The observers were approved for the mission according to UNSC Resolution 2042 passed on April 14.

On April 21, the UN Security Council met and unanimously voted on Resolution 2043 to send a mission of 300 observers to Syria.

Mood also stated that the number of UN observers in Syria would “rapidly” increase to 300 in the coming days.

The chief UN observer arrived in Syria at a time when armed groups continue their sporadic attacks against Syrian forces.

Gunmen in inflatable dinghies carried out an overnight attack against a Syrian military unit stationed near the northwestern port city of Latakia on April 27. Several Syrian troops were reportedly killed and a number of others were injured in the attack.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011 and many people, including members of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.

HSN/JR/HGH

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