The last United Nations observers left in Syria are preparing to leave on Saturday, as their official mission ends Sunday at midnight. Most should be out of the country within hours. There were about 300 observers in the civil-war-torn country at the peak of the mission earlier this year; that number is down to about 100 now. Conditions for the mission's possible extension—including ending the Syrian government's use of heavy weapons—have not been met, and the U.N. plans instead to open a small liaison office to continue peace efforts.
