UN observers wind up their mission in Syria
Published on Aug 18, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish : The head of the UN observer mission in Syria has said he was frustrated with the failure to reduce the violence and end the government's use of heavy weapons.
Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye was giving his final news conference in Damascus ahead of the end of the mission on Sunday.The observers' departure follows the UN Security Council's decision to end the mission and replace it with a small liaison office.
The expiry of the observers' mandate represents a serious blow to international efforts to end the conflict.
Al Jazeera's Julie MacDonald speaks to new UN envoy to Syria
Published on Aug 17, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish : Speaking to Al Jazeera's Julie MacDonald from Paris, Lakhdar Brahimi, newly appointed joint Arab League-United Nations special envoy to Syria, says he was not confident he could resolve the situation, but he would do his best.
