U.N. observers head to the Damascus suburb of Douma in Syria to monitor the UN-backed ceasefire.<br/> <br />The ceasefire brokered by U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan was agreed between Syrian government forces and rebels three weeks ago - but has been dogged by reports of ongoing violence.<br/> <br />Monitors crossed check points to talk to residents and Syrian army soldiers and examine tanks in different locations.<br/> <br />This soldier says that the situation is peaceful in the mornings but at night there are attacks by armed groups.<br/> <br />A U.N. mission this week accused both pro- and anti-Assad forces of violating the truce, and said more than 30 children had been killed since the ceasefire.<br/> <br />The U.N. also reports more than 9,000 people have died during President Bashar Al Assad's crackdown over 13 months of unrest.<br/> <br />In repsonse, the Syrian government says it has lost at least 2,600 of its forces to 'foreign-backed terrorists".<br/> <br />Sunita Rappai, Reuters
