Getting Serious On Syria, Part 6

The UN is finally moving on Syria, with the Security Council unanimously approving an immediate observer mission to monitor all aspects of the tenuous cease fire in the country.

The resolution calls on Syria to allow the deployment of an advance team of up to 30 international observers and give them unimpeded freedom of movement.

It also calls on all parties to cease armed violence.

Russia's ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow, which has previously blocked U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria, was satisfied the text now required all sides to end the violence.

"There have been too many casualties, too much suffering to befall the Syrian people," said Churkin.

He warned that the unrest could affect regional peace and stability, describing it as an "extremely critical juncture" and calling on all parties in Syria to refrain from violence.

Security Council President Mark Lyall Grant, of the United Kingdom, said a narrow window existed to improve conditions on the ground.

And the "cease fire" is in name only, as Syria rebels and activists continue to claim that there's plenty of government troops targeting Syrian cities away from prying eyes.  However, it does mean that Russia and China are on board behind the Kofi Annan effort to secure a peace, and that's a major improvement.  We'll see how long this lasts.