The Security Council has voted to increase the number of UN observers in Syria to 300 for three months.
A small UN team is currently in Syria to monitor a fragile ceasefire between government and rebel forces.
The UN resolution was unanimously approved by the 15-member council, as the monitors were allowed to visit the city of Homs for the first time.
The visit came amid a lull in fighting in the opposition stronghold, which has been under bombardment by the army.
Rebels said tanks had been temporarily hidden out of sight while the observers were in the city, and that shelling was likely to resume.
“It is very clear that the Syrian government can stop the violence whenever it wants,” Homs opposition activist Walid al-Fares told Reuters news agency. (BBC)
