_____________________________________________________________. It has left thousands dead since anti-government protests began earlier this year. At least 18 people are reported to have been killed in the latest shelling of the city of Homs. The Arab League initiative agreed with the Syrian government requires all armed forces to withdraw from the areas of conflict. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says it's not clear whether the observers' movements will be restricted.
The main contention to the Arab League observe mission has arrived in Syria to monitor an initiative to end the continued violence which left thousands of deaths since anti-government protests began early this year.