The head of the observer mission to Syria, General Robert Mood, has told the Security Council that the UN team was targeted by gun fire and hostile crowds, ahead of his decision to suspend the mission.
Diplomats say Gen Mood described how his 300 unarmed monitors were targeted at least 10 times by direct fire and nine UN vehicles were struck in the past week alone.
Gen Mood earlier called on both sides to allow the evacuation of trapped civilians; however the Syrian government blamed opposition fighters of ‘obstructing’ their attempts.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama held meetings with the Chinese and Russian heads of state on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Mexico.
The president admitted he had not been able to achieve a breakthrough, with the two nations opposed to UN resolutions on Syria backed by the US.
"I wouldn't suggest that at this point the United States and the rest of the international community are aligned with Russia and China in their positions.
"But I do think they recognise the grave dangers of all-out civil war," Mr Obama said.
