BBC News with Nick Kelly

The United Nations Security Council has backed a deadline of next Tuesday for Syrian forces to end their offensive against the opposition. The council called on Syria to implement urgently its commitment to

pull back

troops and heavy weapons from population centres. The deadline is part of a peace plan put forward by the UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Barbara Plett reports from the UN.

Kofi Annan was clearly sceptical about Syria's commitments. He told the General Assembly the government had claimed a partial withdrawal of troops from three cities, but reports of alarming numbers of casualties continued, and he said he was waiting for fuller action and information. He said the opposition had promised to observe a ceasefire if the government fulfills

pledges

to end military operations by 10 April, but he urged both sides to issue clear commands to local fighters to ensure violence ended by the morning of 12 April. And he stressed the importance of moving quickly to a political process to prevent a return to

hostilities

.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been given permission by Syria's government to visit

detention

facilities. The ICRC says its representatives will visit Aleppo central prison. It's been trying for months to see those detained in the unrest.

The right-wing Italian leader Umberto Bossi has resigned as head of the Northern League, the separatist party he founded and led for many years. He left his post following a financial scandal