SYRIA. - Due to escalating violence over the past weeks, the United Nations monitors announced Saturday that they have to suspend the mission in Syria. The monitors will draw until the "intensification of armed violence" has died down.
The UN Major General Robert Mood said "UN observers will not be conducting patrols and will stay in their locations until further notice...the suspension of activities would be reviewed on a daily basis. Operations will resume when we see the situation fit for us to carry out our mandated activities," as reported by the New York Times.
According to the general, the failure on both parties to come to a peaceful conclusion has only increased the killings of innocent civilians.
There are currently around 300 un armed international United Nations monitors in Syria (UNSMIS - United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria) whose job is to observe and confirm that the six point peace plan of UN envoy Kofi Annan is being implemented. The UNSMIS has been in the violence-ridden state since April.
The peace plan stipulated a cease-fire between the government and the rebels as its first goal, however conditions indicate the increase of armed violence rather than what was hoped for.
Last week, the UN monitors were attacked on when trying to enter the town of Haffeh, the site of a recent mass killing allegedly perpetrated by government supporters.
General Mood is expected to address the United General Assembly Monday regarding the suspension.
According to the United Nations, since the protests again president Bashar al-Assad broke out in March, an estimated 10,000 people have been killed, as reported by Time Colonist.
