The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a 30-day extension of the monitoring mission in Syria, but remains divided on how to resolve the increasingly bloody conflict.

The 300 unarmed military observers were deployed as part of U.N. envoy Kofi Annan's plan to end the conflict that has killed thousands in the past 16 months. But the force has been viewed as largely ineffective.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said the decision to extend the mission will allow the troops to withdraw safely.

She said the U.S. would prefer to see stronger sanctions imposed on Syria, but Russia on Friday again threatened to veto such a resolution.