UN observer mission is in Syrian interest: official

Damascus, April 16 (IANS) To have international observers on our territory is in Syrian interest, a top Syrian official said Sunday, adding that it is so because they can help in exposing the crimes committed by armed groups, Xinhua reported.

After the UN-brokered ceasefire turned effective in Syria Thursday, the armed groups carried out over 60 attacks in several Syrian cities, targeting civilians and army and security personnel, BBC quoted Buthiana Shabaan, the Syrian presidential media advisor as saying Sunday.

On Saturday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) voted on a resolution to dispatch an advance team of international observers to Syria to monitor the ceasefire between the country's government and opposition forces.

According to the resolution, up to 30 unarmed military observers are authorised to "liaise with the parties and to begin to report on the implementation of a full cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties."

The observers will monitor the implementation of the ceasefire, which calls for the troops' withdrawal from populated areas, allowing in foreign media, and permitting peaceful demonstrations.

On Sunday, Shabaan noted that the violations have been documented and sent to the UN-Arab envoy for Syria Kofi Annan.

The UN observers will carry out their mission in Syria in two stages. During the first stage, the 30 observers will be sent to Syria to conclude and sign a protocol to regulate the work of another 250 observers, she said.

During the negotiation on the protocol Syria has the right to agree or disagree with the nationalities of some observers, she added.