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| United Nations observer mission in Syria ends | United Nations observer mission in Syria ends |
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| The United Nations observer mission in Syria has formally ended, in line with Thursday's Security Council decision. | The United Nations observer mission in Syria has formally ended, in line with Thursday's Security Council decision. |
| The team was deployed to monitor a ceasefire between rebels and the government agreed as part of former UN envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan, but the truce never took hold. | The team was deployed to monitor a ceasefire between rebels and the government agreed as part of former UN envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan, but the truce never took hold. |
| The UN decided to end the mission in response to growing levels of violence. | The UN decided to end the mission in response to growing levels of violence. |
| Mr Annan's successor, Lakhdar Brahimi, said on Sunday his task was no longer to prevent a civil war, but to end one. | Mr Annan's successor, Lakhdar Brahimi, said on Sunday his task was no longer to prevent a civil war, but to end one. |
| "Civil war is the cruellest kind of conflict, when a neighbour kills his neighbour and sometimes his brother. It is the worst of conflicts," the newly appointed Mr Brahimi told France 24 television. | "Civil war is the cruellest kind of conflict, when a neighbour kills his neighbour and sometimes his brother. It is the worst of conflicts," the newly appointed Mr Brahimi told France 24 television. |
| "There are a lot of people who say that we must avoid civil war in Syria, but I believe that there has already been a civil war there for some time now. What's necessary is to stop the civil war and that is not going to be easy." | "There are a lot of people who say that we must avoid civil war in Syria, but I believe that there has already been a civil war there for some time now. What's necessary is to stop the civil war and that is not going to be easy." |
| Mr Annan quit at the beginning of August, saying the increasing militarisation of the conflict as well as a lack of unity in the UN made it impossible for him to carry out his task. | Mr Annan quit at the beginning of August, saying the increasing militarisation of the conflict as well as a lack of unity in the UN made it impossible for him to carry out his task. |
| Russia and China have vetoed resolutions on the crisis three times, citing their opposition to any action which might be seen as regime change imposed from outside. | Russia and China have vetoed resolutions on the crisis three times, citing their opposition to any action which might be seen as regime change imposed from outside. |
| The appointment of Mr Brahimi, 78, an Algerian who has held a long list of high-profile diplomatic posts, was widely welcomed by the international community on Sunday. | The appointment of Mr Brahimi, 78, an Algerian who has held a long list of high-profile diplomatic posts, was widely welcomed by the international community on Sunday. |
| Officials in Damascus have also offered their support. | Officials in Damascus have also offered their support. |
| Analysts say he has a formidable reputation at the UN but is also seen as independent of the major powers. | Analysts say he has a formidable reputation at the UN but is also seen as independent of the major powers. |
| However, opposition groups have expressed scepticism about his ability to accomplish his mission. | However, opposition groups have expressed scepticism about his ability to accomplish his mission. |
| On Sunday, a dispute flared between Mr Brahimi and the Turkey-based opposition Syrian National Council after he said it was too soon for him to comment on whether President Bashar al-Assad should step down. | On Sunday, a dispute flared between Mr Brahimi and the Turkey-based opposition Syrian National Council after he said it was too soon for him to comment on whether President Bashar al-Assad should step down. |
| The group said Mr Brahimi's comments were "unacceptable" and called for him to retract them and apologise. | The group said Mr Brahimi's comments were "unacceptable" and called for him to retract them and apologise. |
| Mr Brahimi later told Al-Jazeera TV that the SNC had misinterpreted his comments, and in turn demanded that the group apologise to him. | Mr Brahimi later told Al-Jazeera TV that the SNC had misinterpreted his comments, and in turn demanded that the group apologise to him. |
| Political contacts | Political contacts |
| Announcing the end of its observer mission, the UN said a small civilian office will be set up instead to maintain political contacts. | Announcing the end of its observer mission, the UN said 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 on Thursday. | "The conditions to continue [the mission] were not filled," France's UN ambassador, Gerard Araud, said after a Security Council meeting on Thursday. |
| As a result, the mission ended at midnight local time (21:00 GMT) on Sunday. | As a result, the mission ended at midnight local time (21:00 GMT) on Sunday. |
| Before the decision, Russia had warned that pulling out of Syria would have "serious negative consequences" for the region. | Before the decision, Russia had warned that pulling out of Syria would have "serious negative consequences" for the region. |
| On Saturday, the departing mission's head, Gen Babacar Gaye of Senegal, accused both government forces and rebels of failing to protect civilians. | On Saturday, the departing mission's head, Gen Babacar Gaye of Senegal, accused both government forces and rebels of failing to protect civilians. |
| Activists estimate about 20,000 people have died since anti-government protests erupted against the Assad regime in March last year. Tens of thousands of people have also fled the country. | Activists estimate about 20,000 people have died since anti-government protests erupted against the Assad regime in March last year. Tens of thousands of people have also fled the country. |
| On Sunday, President Assad made his first appearance in public since a bomb attack in Damascus last month killed several senior officials. | On Sunday, President Assad made his first appearance in public since a bomb attack in Damascus last month killed several senior officials. |
| State TV showed Mr Assad performing prayers in the capital's al-Hamad mosque at the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan. | State TV showed Mr Assad performing prayers in the capital's al-Hamad mosque at the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan. |
| His other appearances since the bombing had showed him carrying out official duties in government buildings. | His other appearances since the bombing had showed him carrying out official duties in government buildings. |
| Across the country, many people marked the Eid al-Fitr holiday with prayers and anti-government demonstrations. | Across the country, many people marked the Eid al-Fitr holiday with prayers and anti-government demonstrations. |
| Opposition groups also reported fierce bombardments of rebel-held areas. | Opposition groups also reported fierce bombardments of rebel-held areas. |
| Parts of Aleppo and Rastan were shelled, and clashes reported in Herak, Deraa province, the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | Parts of Aleppo and Rastan were shelled, and clashes reported in Herak, Deraa province, the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. |
| Protests were held at cemeteries and mosques around Syria including Damascus, Hama and Idlib, opposition activists said. | Protests were held at cemeteries and mosques around Syria including Damascus, Hama and Idlib, opposition activists said. |
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