Syrian death toll rises as mission changes for UN monitors
- 12 years ago
Chaos and carnage in the southern Syrian town of Tafas, near Deraa.
Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of this video, obtained from a social media website and reportedly shot on Friday.
Oppostiion group, the The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights puts the death toll over the last 48 hours at 550 - making it the bloodiest two days of the 16-month uprising.
Meanwhile UN observers begin their journey home after a shift in focus in the UN's monitoring mission.
The Security Council unanimously approved a 30-day extension of Kofi Annan's peace plan, which deployed 300 unarmed observers to Syria in April.
But after little progress in monitoring the non-existent truce, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has now shifted the emphasis to pursing a political solution.
Diplomats say only half of the 300 observers will be needed for this.
The rest are returning home - but will be ready to redeploy at short notice If needed.
Sunita Rappai REuters
Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of this video, obtained from a social media website and reportedly shot on Friday.
Oppostiion group, the The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights puts the death toll over the last 48 hours at 550 - making it the bloodiest two days of the 16-month uprising.
Meanwhile UN observers begin their journey home after a shift in focus in the UN's monitoring mission.
The Security Council unanimously approved a 30-day extension of Kofi Annan's peace plan, which deployed 300 unarmed observers to Syria in April.
But after little progress in monitoring the non-existent truce, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has now shifted the emphasis to pursing a political solution.
Diplomats say only half of the 300 observers will be needed for this.
The rest are returning home - but will be ready to redeploy at short notice If needed.
Sunita Rappai REuters