UNITED NATIONS - The UN anticipates that 30 of up to 300 members of the UN ceasefire monitoring team for Syria will be on the ground by April 30, the deputy UN spokesman, Eduardo del Buey, said here Friday.

"The UN is working hard on the issue and expects the initial team of 30 monitors to be in place by Monday," said del Buey in response to a question asked by a reporter at the daily briefing.

The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) was established last Saturday by the UN Security Council in order to provide up to 300 military observers tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between the Syrian government and the opposition and support the six-point plan for peace in Syria proposed by Kofi Annan, the Arab League and UN joint special envoy for Syria.

"The UN is currently negotiating with member states for troops, but the countries contributing troops would not be identified at this time," del Buey said.