UN official to meet Syrian opposition

UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations Herve Ladsous said on Monday he would meet leaders of opposition groups in Syria to discuss their views of the crisis. The Syrian TV broadcast remarks of the UN official, made as he was accompanied by UN observer chief ib Syria Maj Gen Robert Mood on a visit of the Damascus countryside's districts of Douma and Zabadani. Ladsous said his talks with Syrian foreign minister Waleed al-Muallem focused on the local situation and means of cooperation with the UN observers' mission. The violence is decreasing in Syria, and all involved sides of the conflict should stop the violence, Ladsous said. The envoy said he heard sound of a blast in Douma, during the visit, but could not determine its nature and source, noting that he accompanied the observers during a tour to Homs, Idlib, Hamat, Deraa and other various areas.