Observer mission chief says UN committed to staying in Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the United Nations observer mission in Syria said that UN forces have come under fire recently but are committed to staying in the strife-torn country, Belfast Telegraph reported.

Major General Robert Mood said that questions about cancelling the mission were premature and noted: "We are not going anywhere."

The UN said on Saturday its 300 observers based in Syria were suspending all missions because of concerns for their safety after fighting intensified over the previous 10 days.

"Shelling, small arms fire and other incidents are coming much closer, and we have been targets several times over the last few weeks," he said. It was not only dangerous to his observers, but made it difficult to carry out their mission.

Maj Gen Mood spoke after briefing the UN Security Council during a closed meeting on the situation in Syria, where shelling and clashes between rebel fighters and government troops in Homs have continued. "The suffering of the Syrian people, the suffering of men, women and children, some of them trapped by fighting, is getting worse," Maj Gen Mood said.

Opposition groups say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has said he hopes he and President Hu Jintao of China can find a "co-operative approach" to end the bloodshed in Syria. Mr Obama was meeting with Mr Hu on the sidelines of a G20 summit.

Mr Hu, standing with Mr Obama at the start of their meeting, said China will work to "appropriately handle" disagreements and sensitive issues. Mr Hu did not mention Syria specifically.

Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin said only the Syrian people have the right to decide whether their president Bashar Assad steps down. Mr Putin said not all Syrians want a change in leadership and that all parties need to negotiate a solution to end the bloodshed.