Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from Beirut, cautions that one shouldn't have unrealistic expectations of what seven UN observers on the ground can achieve.

These people are unarmed - they don't have any military escort. They're still trying to get their gear in in terms of armoured vehicles, communication devices, even escort. 

"They are eager to start, but they're also humble in their capabilities.

"Today, the fact that they're not going to be on the ground, will be disappointing for the opposition, for the activists who were hoping their presence would deter the government so they would get more protesters onto the streets."