A United Nations peacekeeping team is heading to Syria to discuss a potential mission overseeing a cease-fire brokered by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, while the U.N. Security Council considers a new statement on the peace deal.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to the peace plan, which calls for government forces to halt violence by April 10. But fighting has continued and diplomats and analysts have cast doubt on whether Mr. Assad will abide by the agreement.

Security Council members are weighing a presidential statement that U.N. diplomats say could be adopted Thursday. Mr. Annan is also scheduled to brief the U.N. General Assembly.

In a draft of the statement, obtained by VOA, the Security Council “expresses its grave concern” that Syria has not yet implemented Mr. Annan's plan. It demands that Mr. Assad's government “immediately and verifiably” stop the use of heavy weapons and pull military forces back from population centers. In turn, all other parties are to cease violence within 48 hours.

State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has not seen any independent reports of troop withdrawals.

“What we've seen, frankly, is an intensification of artillery bombardments in major population centers like Homs and Idlib. So we've yet to be convinced that they're – have any intention of complying with the April 10 deadline.”

Fierce clashes between pro- and anti-government forces continued across the country Wednesday. Rights groups and activists said at least 50 people were killed in the latest round of violence.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Western and Arab nations against arming Syrian rebels, and said foreign military intervention would lead to even more disastrous consequences for Syria.

The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Mr. Assad began a year ago.

Middle East analyst Christopher Phillips told VOA Wednesday the government crackdown will likely to continue until April 10.

“Given the regime has taken a largely militaristic approach to this uprising, you suspect their intention is to continue to oppress and be relatively violent right up to the 10th deadline as a means to crush the opposition as best it can before that deadline comes about.”

Phillips, an international relations lecturer at the University of London, said it is doubtful that Syria will uphold the provisions of Annan's peace plan.

“It's highly unlikely that he will abide by the terms entirely. I think this regime has decided a long time ago that its best route for survival is the military option. Its acceptance of this plan appears to be a play for time as they have done in the past with other plans such as the Arab League plan.”