U.S. Urges Syria to Allow Full Access to Monitors

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday urged Syria to allow Arab monitors to observe as many anti-regime protests as possible and provide unfettered access to members of the opposition.

However, it said it was premature to comment on the first day of monitoring on Tuesday, unlike France which said the monitors were denied the chance to see the reality in the flashpoint city of Homs, where many civilians have been reported killed.

"It was just day one, it was one small area of Homs," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters when asked to comment on the chief monitor who revealed nothing negative after a visit to protest-hub Homs.

"We need to let this mission get up and running, let them do their job and then let them give their judgment," Toner said, adding he expected more monitors to arrive over the coming weeks.

"We do have confidence in the mission," Toner said.

"It's important that they have access to all areas in order to carry out a full investigation," he said.

It is also important for the monitors to observe "as many of the protests as possible, engage with as many members of the opposition as possible," he said.

The French foreign ministry said Arab League observers have not been allowed to determine the real situation in Homs and should return to the city for the full picture.

Arab League mission chief General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi on Wednesday said the visit to Homs had been "good," and that he was returning there. He said more observers would join the mission, which now numbers 66 people.

Activists said residents of Homs' Baba Amro quarter refused to allow observers in because they were accompanied by an army officer.

The observers were due later this week to visit Daraa, cradle of the nine-month anti-regime protests, as well as the northern provinces of Hama and Idlib, and around Damascus.