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Syria Live Blog

Syria - Apr 23, 2012 - 06:41

Last modified: 23 Apr 2012 03:41
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Here's a quick recap of recent developments:


• United Nations observers have been visiting sites across Syria affected by the conflict.

• In Hama, they were welcomed by protesters chanting anti-government slogans.

• Syrian forces were reportedly clashing with protesters in another part of the city.

• Fighting generally halts temporarily when the observers are present in an area, but there has been a steady stream of reports of violence from towns and regions where they have not yet gone.

• On Sunday, activists said that government troops pounded the Damascus suburb of Douma with artillery and heavy machine guns. The monitors have not visited Douma so far.

• At least 12 civilians and five soldiers were killed on Sunday, activists and state media said.

• The observers are one week into their mission to monitor a supposed truce between government forces and opposition fighters.

• International envoy Kofi Annan has expressed hope that despite continued violations of the ceasefire he brokered, an expanded team of up to 300 observers - voted through by the UN Security Council on Saturday - can help end 13 months of violence and lead to talks between Assad and the opposition.

• This is the first time the UN has sent an unarmed mission into a conflict zone. The mission was set for at least 90 days.
 
• In the north-western province of Idlib, protesters have been clashing with government forces for months. 

• Al Jazeera has visited the region, and as our correspondent reports, people there are vowing to fight on: