The US 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 judgement," Toner said, adding he expected more monitors to arrive over the coming weeks.