U.N. Security Council authorises cross-border aid access in Syria

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Monday authorised humanitarian access without Syrian government consent into rebel-held areas at four border crossings from Turkey, Iraq and Jordan, even though Syria has warned it deems such deliveries incursions into its territory. "The consent of the Syrian authorities will no longer be necessary," Luxembourg's U.N. Ambassador Sylvie Lucas told the 15-member Security Council after the vote on the resolution, which was drafted by Luxembourg, Australia and Jordan.

The unanimously adopted resolution established for 180 days a monitoring mechanism for loading aid convoys in neighbouring countries, which will notify Syria of the "humanitarian nature of these relief consignments."