UN team starts mission in Syria amid claims of shelling

A small advance team of UN monitors has arrived in Damascus to liaise with all sides in the conflict.

It comes ahead of the full UN observer mission expected to gain approval later this week.

A tentative ceasefire has reportedly been holding, although there have been claims of sporadic clashes.

Footage purporting to show shelling in Homs on Monday has also emerged.

Kofi Annan's spokesman, Ahmad Fawzi, said the UN hoped the monitors would get "to places like Homs" as soon as possible.