The UN Security Council is to vote today on whether to extend their monitoring mission in Syria.

It follows a veto by China and Russia on a resolution against Bashar al-Assad’s regime yesterday – a move which was slammed by other members of the council.

Rebel forces have taken control of a number of Syria’s border crossings with Turkey and Iraq, while continuing violence has been reported in the capital Damascus today.

It’s been claimed that yesterday marked the most lethal day of the conflict so far, with an estimated 250 people killed.

Martin Chulov is the Middle East Correspondent with the Guardian – he says the UN needs to keep a presence on the ground in Syria: