Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) - the main rebel fighting force - condemned the seizure of the UN observers.

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Western and UN observers have not been allowed in.

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There are UN observers as well, they are separate.

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Each commission will consist of scholars, "neutral and benevolent people", two members of the commission for the convocation of the loya jirga, UN representatives and international observers.

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The UN has around 150 international observers in Iraq, who travel across the country visiting food warehouses and other installations to check on the implementation of the UN's humanitarian programme, under which Iraq is allowed to sell oil in exchange for food, medicine and other vital supplies.

BBC: UN observers leave southern Iraq

They could be followed by a larger mission of 250 observers, subject to UN Security Council approval.

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The UN says its decision not to deploy the observers to southern Iraq is in response to security advice it has received from different sources.

BBC: UN observers leave southern Iraq

At present there are some 3, 300 peacekeepers and military observers from some 40 countries, 191 civilians and 74 UN volunteers working for Unmee.

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