In Syria, an advance group of Arab League observers has arrived in Damascus to begin the task of monitoring compliance with a peace plan under which all violence is supposed to end, armed forces are to be withdrawn from the streets, and all detainees freed.

The Today Programme's Zubeida Malik spoke to Homs resident Maria about daily life there and the BBC's Jim Muir, who is monitoring the situation from Beirut, reports on how the bloodshed has continued, with activists reporting around 30 people killed.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.