Both sides in Syria violating cease-fire, UN peacekeeping chief says

UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. peacekeeping chief says U.N. military observers in Syria are reporting cease-fire violations from the government and opposition and he is demanding a halt to all violence.

Herve Ladsous told a news conference that 24 observers were in Syria on Tuesday. He said he expects a rapid increase that will see the authorized total of 300 observers on the ground by the end of May.

Ladsous said he expects the U.N. and Syria to sign an agreement "very rapidly" on the operation of the U.N. mission.

But he said President Bashar Assad's government is still opposing a U.N. request to use its own helicopters and air assets and discussions are continuing on that issue.