UN says ready to aid Arab peace mission to Syria

The United Nations is ready to support a proposed Arab League peace monitoring mission to Syria, where an eight-month crackdown on protests had led to thousands of deaths, a UN spokesman said on Friday.

The pan-Arab body said in a statement on Thursday it was urging the United Nations to take "necessary measures according to the UN charter to support the Arab League's effort to settle the complicated situation in Syria." (Reuters)