The latest UN monitors leave Syria

The latest UN observer mission in Syria which ends tomorrow, August 19th, have begun on Saturday to leave the country, according to a UN spokesman, Juliette Touma, cited by international media. Touma explained that members of the Monitoring Mission in Syria UN (UNSMIS) continue there, about a hundred people left the country in the next few hours, as reported by the Russian news agency, RIA Novosti. Created by the adoption on 21 April 2043 the UN resolution, UNSMIS originally had 300 unarmed military observers but halved in late July. The mission was established to monitor the ceasefire between the government and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad came into force on April 12, but the resurgence of violence have impeded their work.  On 16 August, the Security Council of the UN announced the end of the mission and the establishment of a liaison office civil efforts to keep UN and the Arab League to reach a settlement. Syrian authorities said the conflict affecting the country for the last 17 months has caused about 8,000 deaths. In contrast, non-governmental organizations estimate that between 17,000 and 20,000 people have died in the fighting.