Obama and Putin said they would both support a so far ineffective cease-fire plan by former U.N.

WSJ: Rival Powers Hit Wall on Syria Plan

Withdrawing from Syria would ensure the safety of the team, but it could signal a loss of confidence in the hopes of a cease-fire and leave the U.N. without a way to monitor progress, the report says.

CNN: U.N. head outlines options for Syria mission

The U.N. agencies called for an immediate cease-fire to allow civilians to leave the town.

NPR: Hezbollah, Syrian Rebels In Worst Clash In Lebanon

But he said that ending the conflict there required a political solution, not a military one, and emphasized that the primary role of U.N. troops would be to monitor any cease-fire agreed upon by the warring parties.

CNN: U.N. condemns Congo atrocities

The U.N. observer mission is tasked to monitor the cease-fire and the peace plan.

CNN: 7 dead as Syrian troops storm Aleppo University

The statement said that after the withdrawal is complete, the U.N. will have a chance to broker a cease-fire for Sarajevo, and later for all of Bosnia.

CNN: NATO extends deadline for Bosnian Serbs to move weapons

Many of the Europeans and Arabs, as well as the U.N. secretary-general, are pushing for an immediate cease-fire.

NPR: Rice Jousts with Diplomats on Lebanon Solution

An advance team of U.N. observers is in Syria to check compliance with the cease-fire, with 30 unarmed monitors expected in the coming days.

CNN: Clinton calls for tougher U.N. steps against Syria

It has authorized up to 300 monitors in Syria to monitor a cease-fire and the six-point peace plan of U.N. and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

CNN: U.N. notes cease-fire violations from both sides in Syria

By last month, some unarmed U.N. observers sent to the country to monitor the purported cease-fire deal had left the country, while others were largely confined to their hotels.

WSJ: Diplomacy Hits Dead End in Syria

The Syrian Foreign Ministry statement backtracks on previous public commitments given by the government that it will fully abide by the U.N. six-point plan, which paves the way for a cease-fire, due to be implemented by Tuesday.

WSJ: Syria Sets Conditions on Withdrawing Troops

After months of violence, Arab League-U.N. envoy Kofi Annan weeks ago helped broker what he hoped was a cease-fire.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The cease-fire is part of a six-point peace plan laid out by U.N.

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Washington is supporting U.N. and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's peace initiative, which calls for a cease-fire and a political solution.

CNN: Military options for Syria considered if crisis worsens

"As of this hour, the information that we have is that the cease-fire is holding in North Kivu (province), " Kevin Kennedy told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York at noon.

CNN: Rebel general offers aid corridor for Congo