The head of UN monitoring mission, Major General Robert Mood, has announced his departure from Syria with a plea for united action at the security council to end the escalating violence in the country. The mandate of the current mission expires tomorrow (see 9.53am)
12.18pm: There should be a UN presence in Syria, but only if both sides commit to a political process, Major General Robert Mood, the outgoing head of the UN's monitoring mission, told reporters in Damascus.