UN may maintain Syria presence

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon plans to propose a continued UN presence in Syria if the Security Council decides to terminate the unarmed observer mission there before August 20, diplomats said Thursday. French Ambassador Gerard Araud, the current council president, said the body would maintain the mission under certain conditions, including an end to the violence. He said that if those conditions were not met by parties in Syria, then there is a possibility that the 15-nation council may opt not to renew the observer mission mandate when it expires on August 20. Araud and other diplomats said some kind of UN presence may remain in Syria to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians. More than 2 million Syrians need assistance because of the continued conflict, according to the UN.