Syrian death toll rises as mission changes for UN monitors

2012-07-21 16

Chaos and carnage in the southern Syrian town of Tafas, near Deraa.

Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of this video, obtained from a social media website and reportedly shot on Friday.

Oppostiion group, the The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights puts the death toll over the last 48 hours at 550 - making it the bloodiest two days of the 16-month uprising.

Meanwhile UN observers begin their journey home after a shift in focus in the UN's monitoring mission.

The Security Council unanimously approved a 30-day extension of Kofi Annan's peace plan, which deployed 300 unarmed observers to Syria in April.

But after little progress in monitoring the non-existent truce, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has now shifted the emphasis to pursing a political solution.

Diplomats say only half of the 300 observers will be needed for this.

The rest are returning home - but will be ready to redeploy at short notice If needed.

Sunita Rappai REuters