Norway general to lead UN observers in Syria

UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed a Norwegian general and adviser to international envoy Kofi Annan to head the new U.N. monitoring mission in Syria.

U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey on Friday announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, who will also serve as chief U.N. military observer in Syria.

Last Saturday, the Security Council authorized up to 300 unarmed observers to try to end the 13-month conflict in Syria.

Mood has held senior military posts in Norway and internationally, including in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon and heading the U.N. observer mission to the Middle East.