Damascus Prefers Limited, 'Neutral' Monitoring Mission

The Syrian foreign minister says there is no need for a U.N. monitoring mission to have more than 250 observers or its own helicopters, Reuters reports.

Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem urged that the monitors come from such "neutral" countries as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- all relatively sympathetic to Syria.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon previously indicated that 250 monitors would not be enough, considering the...