SYRIA has agreed to a deadline to implement a peace plan, according to UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

Mr Annan told the UN Security Council the country has backed the idea of such a deadline, which would include the end of troop movements towards population centres, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and a start to the withdrawal of troops, UN diplomats said.

So far, however, there has been no sign of Syrian President Bashar al Assad keeping his promise to implement Mr Annan's six-point peace plan, which calls for an end to violence and political dialogue between the Government and opposition aimed at a "political transition".

There is "no progress on the ground," a diplomat inside the meeting said.

Despite the lack of progress, Mr Annan suggested to the council there may be the beginnings of a plan to end the year-long conflict and he urged council members to "begin consideration of deployment of an observer mission with a broad and flexible mandate", a diplomat said.

The UN peace keeping department has already begun contingency planning for a UN ceasefire monitoring mission that would have 200 to 250 unarmed observers. Such a mission would require a security council resolution.

It was not immediately clear how Russia was responding to Mr Annan's suggestions. Russia and China vetoed two council resolutions condemning Mr Assad's assault on pro-democracry demonstrations, which were inspired by other Arab Spring uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa.

Earlier, Russia had chided Western and Arab nations that set "ultimatums and artificial deadlines" for ending the bloodshed in Syria and said it was not their place to judge Mr Annan's ceasefire plan.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's remarks were aimed at the Friends of Syria group that said in Istanbul on Sunday that Mr Assad did not have an open-ended opportunity to meet his commitments to Mr Annan.

Mr Lavrov said: "Kofi Annan has a mandate from the UN Secretary General and the security council.

"The security council will judge who should implement his proposals, and how. Ultimatums and artificial deadlines rarely help the matter."

The UN said Syrian soldiers and security forces have killed more than 9000 people over the past year. Damascus says rebels have killed 3000 troops and police.

Meanwhile, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was heading to Damascus yesterday for talks aimed at expanding aid operations and gaining access to all detainees.

Jakob Kellenberger, whose two-day visit will include stops in areas affected by the fighting, will push the ICRC's proposal made in February for a daily two-hour ceasefire in order to evacuate wounded and deliver life-saving supplies to civilians.

He said: "I am determined to see the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent expand their presence, range and scope of activities to address the needs of vulnerable people.

"This will be a key element of my talks with the Syrian officials."

Mr Kellenberger is making his third trip to Syria since June and will hold talks with senior Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, Interior Minister Major-General Mohamad al-Shaar and Health Minister Dr. Wael al-Halki.

Government forces bombarded opposition targets in the city of Homs yesterday despite Mr Assad's promise to Mr Annan to cease fire and withdraw his tanks and artillery.