United Nations observers in Syria toured the heavily damaged region of Homs Thursday.

The town, once a stronghold of opposition forces, is littered with piles of rubble and bombed out buildings.

The head of the monitoring mission, Norwegian Major-General Robert Mood, held talks with members of the Syrian Free Army..

Mood, said all sides need to cooperate for the right choices to be made in the days ahead.

SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF MONITORING MISSION, MAJOR-GENERAL ROBERT MOOD, SAYING:

"The choice being going down the road of more violence, more suffering for women and children. Or going down the road of a peaceful transition serving the aspirations of the Syrian people."

Around 300 U.N. monitors will be deployed by the end of the month.

Mood said despite the relatively small number of observers and continued violence, their presence is having a calming affect.

Julie Noce, Reuters