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Beirut, June 16 (Reuters): UN observers monitoring the turmoil in Syria suspended operations today in response to escalating violence which threatens to kill off a tattered peace plan brokered by international mediator Kofi Annan.
Gen. Robert Mood said the relentless bloodshed posed a threat to his unarmed observers, one of whose patrols was fired upon four days ago, and prevented them from carrying out their mandate to monitor Annan's widely ignored April 12 ceasefire.
“There has been an intensification of armed violence across Syria over the past 10 days,” Mood said in statement.
“The lack of willingness by the parties to seek a peaceful transition, and the push towards advancing military positions is increasing the losses on both sides.”
Mood is expected to brief the UN Security Council on Monday about the security situation in Syria, which head of UN peacekeeping said this week was now in the throes of full-scale civil war. The five veto-wielding Security Council members are expected to have discussions on the sidelines of a G20 summit.
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