UN chief says Syria situation is grave
Posted Apr 19, 2012 02:10:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the situation in Syria is grave but he believes there is an opportunity for progress and is recommending the Security Council approve a 300-strong U.N. observer mission.
Ban said in a letter to the council obtained by The Associated Press late Wednesday that he will consider developments on the ground, including consolidation of the cease-fire, before deciding on deployment of the expanded mission, which is larger than the 250 initially envisioned.
The U.N. chief said the level of violence dropped markedly on April 12, the day a cease-fire called for by international envoy Kofi Annan went into effect, but said violent incidents and reported casualties have escalated again in recent day.
