BEIRUT: Syrian security forces have opened fire on anti-regime demonstrators surrounding the cars of a UN team meant to monitor a shaky cease-fire, sending the observers speeding off and protesters dashing for cover, according to activists and amateur videos.
Wednesday's fresh violence in a suburb of Damascus, the Syrian capital, provided the first public glimpse of the work of the small team struggling to reinforce the international community's stumbling efforts to end 13 months of deadly conflict in Syria.
The shooting, which wounded at least eight people, could also complicate the deployment of a larger UN mission to help a cease-fire take hold between President Bashar Assad's forces and opposition fighters.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday recommended the Security Council approve a mission with 300 observers — 50 more than originally planned — and said that though the situation is grave, there may still be an opportunity for progress.
Ban said in a letter to the council obtained by The Associated Press that he will consider developments on the ground, including consolidation of the cease-fire, before deciding on deployment of the expanded mission.
He said the level of violence dropped markedly on April 12 — the day a cease-fire called for by international envoy Kofi Annan went into effect — but he said violent incidents and reported casualties have escalated again in recent days and ''the cessation of armed violence in all its forms is therefore clearly incomplete.''
The difficulties of the team's mission were clear earlier Wednesday, during its visit to the suburb of Arbeen, just northeast of Damascus.
The team did not announce its plans to visit the area, but a local activist said residents guessed they were coming when tanks posted throughout the area withdrew early Wednesday.
People quickly drew up signs as well as a list of the 34 residents killed since the start of the uprising and information on the scores who have been detained, an Arbeen activist named Ahmed said via Skype. He declined to give his last name for fear of retribution.
Amateur videos posted online showed hundreds of demonstrators crowding around at least three UN Land Cruisers, waving Syrian flags and chanting against the regime. In one video, a man with a microphone and huge speakers on the back of a pickup truck led the crowd in singing ''Bashar, Bashar, we will not kneel!''
The government was supposed to withdraw its troops from towns and cities and observe a cease-fire, to be followed by a cease-fire by the armed opposition. The truce is intended to allow for a dialogue among all parties on a political solution to the conflict.
Instead, Assad's government has ignored key provisions, such as giving free access to humanitarian aid groups and journalists. And while daily violence dipped last week, it has crept back up, with regime forces shelling opposition areas, killing dozens in recent days, activists said. Rebel fighters known at the Free Syrian Army have also attacked and killed security forces.
