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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UN Syria observer mission over, says Security Council | UN Syria observer mission over, says Security Council |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The United Nations has called an end to its military observer mission in Syria, days before its mandate expired. | The United Nations has called an end to its military observer mission in Syria, days before its mandate expired. |
| A small, civilian office will be set up instead to maintain political contacts. | A small, civilian office will be set up instead to maintain political contacts. |
| "The conditions to continue [the mission] were not filled," France's UN ambassador Gerard Araud said after a Security Council meeting. | |
| The UN mission had been part of envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan. But continued violence made the observers' mission increasingly difficult. | The UN mission had been part of envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan. But continued violence made the observers' mission increasingly difficult. |
| A bomb exploded close to their hotel in Damascus on Wednesday. The observers' patrols were suspended in mid-June because of the "significant risk to their lives" and diplomats said the conditions for renewing their mandate - a halt to the use of heavy weapons and a reduction in violence - had not been met. | |
| "So the mission will come to an end at midnight on Sunday," said Mr Araud, the current president of the Security Council. | |
| 'Extremely difficult' | |
| Russia warned earlier that pulling out of Syria would have "serious negative consequences" for the region. | Russia warned earlier that pulling out of Syria would have "serious negative consequences" for the region. |
| Moscow's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said Russia, which has vetoed three UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, wanted the UN to make an international appeal for the Syrian conflict to end. | Moscow's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said Russia, which has vetoed three UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, wanted the UN to make an international appeal for the Syrian conflict to end. |
| Mr Annan resigned as UN-Arab League envoy to Syria a fortnight ago, complaining of a "clear lack of unity" in the Security Council. | Mr Annan resigned as UN-Arab League envoy to Syria a fortnight ago, complaining of a "clear lack of unity" in the Security Council. |
| Although the 101 remaining military observers will leave Damascus over the next eight days, a civilian liaison office is due to remain and a new special envoy is expected to be appointed. | Although the 101 remaining military observers will leave Damascus over the next eight days, a civilian liaison office is due to remain and a new special envoy is expected to be appointed. |
| An estimated 20 to 30 people would staff the liason office, UN deputy peacekeeping chief Edmond Mulet said. | |
| "The situation on the ground is extremely difficult. But the fact that it's difficult doesn't mean we shouldn't face that challenge of trying to open those political spaces in the future," he told reporters at the UN. | |
| Mr Churkin said Russia had called for a meeting on Friday of Security Council members as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia and Iran to discuss the crisis. | Mr Churkin said Russia had called for a meeting on Friday of Security Council members as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia and Iran to discuss the crisis. |
| The 300-member UN Supervision Mission in Syria (Unsmis) was set up in April, initially under a 90-day mandate, to monitor a halt to violence and the implementation of Kofi Annan's plan. | |
| When the 90 days expired, its mandate was extended by a further 30 days in July, despite patrols coming to an end on 16 June because of the increasing bloodshed throughout Syria. | |
| The patrols had become increasingly risky, as monitors faced stone-throwing crowds and gunfire. |