Syria observers to visit Hama, Idlib and Deraa

Arab League monitors are due to visit three more troubled Syrian cities to check if government forces are complying with a peace plan.

The observers, split into teams of about 10, travel to Hama, Idlib and Deraa, where anti-government protesters continue to clash with security forces.
The observers earlier visited Homs - a focal point of the unrest.
The team's leader caused controversy by saying he had seen "nothing frightening" on his visit there.
Sudanese General Mustafa al-Dabi later said he needed more time to make an assessment of the city.
During their visit to Homs, the observers were mobbed by anti-government protesters demanding protection.
Correspondents say they are likely to encounter similar scenes on Thursday when they visit Deraa, Hama and Idlib.

Protesters in Hama - north of Homs - have tried for two days to stage demonstrations in the city centre, only to be dispersed by security forces firing tear gas and live ammunition, reports say.
An activist there, Manhal Abo Baker, told the BBC's World Today programme that it was almost impossible to speak to the observers without the authorities knowing.
"We can't communicate with the inspectors. The inspectors are watched all the time by the regime thugs and the shabiha (militia)," he said.
"If they saw me and saw that I was talking to them... they would run after me and if I was caught I would be dead for sure."
Violence is also reported to be continuing in Idlib, and in Deraa on Tuesday, rebels shot at an army convoy killing four soldiers.

Although the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began with peaceful demonstrations, many army deserters and civilians have since taking up arms against the regime.

The BBC's Jim Muir, in the Lebanese capital Beirut, says observers are coming under criticism from activists for not being outspoken enough and for being dependent on the regime for transport and security.
He says the Arab League is under strong pressure to produce decisive results.
Activists said nearly 40 people died during the first two days of the observers' mission.
Casualty figures and other information are hard to verify as most foreign media are barred from Syria.
Gen Dabi has defended the Arab League mission, saying it is still in its early days.

 

Anti-government protests continue across Syria despite the crackdown

 

The US has also urged activists to give Gen Dabi and his team a chance.

"We need to let this mission get up and running, let them do their job and then let them give their judgement," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
The mission currently consists of 66 observers and is expected to rise to between 200 and 300.
On Wednesday, Syria released 755 people detained during the uprising. State TV said their "hands were not stained with blood".
The UN says more than 14,000 people are in detention and 5,000 have been killed as a result of the state's crackdown.
Human rights activists believe as many as 40,000 people are being held.
President Assad says government forces are fighting armed gangs and that more than 2,000 security personnel have been killed.