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U.N. mulling peacekeepers if Syrian foes reach cease-fire

By the CNN Wire Staff
October 22, 2012 -- Updated 2226 GMT (0626 HKT)
Members of the Free Syrian Army react as they fire a homemade rocket toward regime forces in Deir al-Zor on Sunday, June 16. Tensions in Syria flared in March 2011 during the onset of the Arab Spring, escalating into an ongoing civil war. View the most compelling images taken since the start of the conflict. Members of the Free Syrian Army react as they fire a homemade rocket toward regime forces in Deir al-Zor on Sunday, June 16. Tensions in Syria flared in March 2011 during the onset of the Arab Spring, escalating into an ongoing civil war. View the most compelling images taken since the start of the conflict.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • U.N. peacekeepers for Syria would depend on Security Council vote
  • Official says U.N. concerned with current attempt to broker a cease-fire
  • More than 100 people were killed in Syria on Monday
  • A Jordanian soldier was killed as armed men tried to cross border with Syria

(CNN) -- Herve Ladsous, the U.N. under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, confirmed Monday the organization has started to make plans to send peacekeepers to Syria should the two sides agree to a lasting cease-fire.

"We are getting ourselves ready to act if it becomes necessary and a mandate is given," he told reporters at the United Nations. He emphasized that the decision would rest with the 15-member Security Council. Russia and China have already vetoed sanctions against the Syrian government.

Ladsous also said the current focus is on U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi's quest to forge a cease-fire before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha begins Friday.

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Ladsous didn't say how many troops or what nations would be involved.

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The United Nations and the League of Arab States are urging support of Brahimi's cease-fire plan, saying it could allow for a peaceful political process in Syria.

Brahimi accepted the post after his predecessor, Kofi Annan, resigned in August, blasting the Syrian government for refusing to implement a cease-fire he had negotiated in April.

It's estimated that more than 30,000 people have died in the past 19 months of civil war.

On Monday, 102 people were found dead in areas across Syria, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists. CNN is unable to independently verify these numbers because of Syrian government restrictions and the intensity of the fighting.

For the first time, the bloodshed stretched into Syria's neighbor to the south.

A Jordanian soldier died Sunday night as troops clashed with an armed group trying to enter the country through the border with Syria, state media in Jordan reported Monday.

The news agency Petra said two groups tried to enter at different times, but a corporal in the Jordanian army was killed in a battle against eight armed men. The gunmen were captured, Petra said, citing a source in the Jordanian military.

A second group was also arrested, though the source didn't say how many were involved in that attack.

Blame over Beirut bombing focuses on Syrian leader

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