The chief of the U.N. observers in Syria warned Friday that spiraling bloodshed is hindering the ability of his team to fulfill its obligations, casting into doubt the continuing viability of the mission that lies at the heart of a rapidly disintegrating U.N. peace plan.

Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, who heads the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria, said in a statement issued in Damascus that both sides in the conflict have been escalating the violence in ways that are jeopardizing the safety and effectiveness of the 300-member team.

"Violence, over the past 10 days, has been intensifying ... willingly by the both parties, with losses on both sides and significant risks to our observers," he said. "The escalating violence is now limiting our ability to observe, verify, report, as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects."

The U.N. monitoring mission is central to the implementation of a U.N.-mandated peace plan that has now patently failed to halt the bloodshed. An April 12 cease-fire brought only a brief respite, and many in the international community are warning that Syria's 15-month-old uprising against the rule of President Bashar Assad is at risk of turning into an all-out civil war.

Syrian opposition groups said that at least 25 people were killed in violence Friday.





http://www.sfgate.com