UN approves 1st observers for Syria

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday to deploy the first wave of U.N. military observers to monitor a ceasefire between the Syrian government and opposition fighters, as AP reported. The vote marked the first time U.N. diplomats on the council all agreed on a resolution since the conflict began more than a year ago. It calls on both sides to immediately "cease all armed violence in all its forms." It also calls on the Syrian government to implement the six-point peace plan put forward by international envoy Kofi Annan, including the pull-back of troops and heavy weapons from cities and town. The resolution calls for the deployment of an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to initiate contacts with both sides and begin to report on whether there has been "a full cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties." The council said it intends to immediately establish a larger U.N. supervision mission after consultations between Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Syrian government.