UNITED NATIONS â€"  The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution expanding the number of U.N. observers in Syria from 30 to 300 and demanding an immediate halt to the violence that has been escalating since a cease-fire took effect over a week ago.

The resolution approved Saturday gives Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon authority to decide when to deploy the additional observers, based on developments on the grounds including "the consolidation of the cease-fire."

Ban accused Syrian President Bashar Assad Thursday of failing to honor the cease-fire, expressing dismay at the upsurge in violence.

The resolution merges rival Russian and European texts and dropped a European threat of non-military sanctions if Syria fails to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns and cities.