Fighting continues in Syria despite President Bashar al-Assad’s public acceptance of a U.N.-brokered ceasefire plan. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 31 people, including 18 civilians, were killed in nationwide clashes on Tuesday. Thirteen soldiers were also reportedly killed. At the U.N., Middle East envoy Robert Serry said up to 9,000 people have been killed in the year-long Syrian crackdown.

Robert Serry: “Violence on the ground has continued unabated, resulting in scores of people killed and injured. Credible estimates put the total death toll since the beginning of the uprising one year ago to more than 9,000. It is urgent to stop the fighting and prevent a further violent escalation of the conflict. Immediate steps are needed now from the Syrian government to act on their commitments and demonstrate to the Syrian people that they are ready for a cessation of violence and a political process, issues on which the joint special envoy will also engage the opposition.”