Syria opposition calls for day of protests - live updates A Syrian video still released by the Ugarit News on Thursday purporting to show a demonstration in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour. 9.17am: Syria: French president Nicolas Sarkozy said today that he did not believe the Syrian government's declaration of a ceasefire was sincere and that international observers should be deployed to monitor the situation in the country. Sarkozy said he had discussed the issue with President Obama in a conference call on Thursday, Reuters reports. "I believe, and I discussed this yesterday afternoon with Barack Obama, that at the very least international observers must be deployed to establish what's going on," he said. "I firmly believe the international community should live up to its responsibilities and create the conditions for (setting up) humanitarian corridors," he added. Sarkozy and Obama called on Syria on Thursday to adhere "scrupulously and without conditions" to the UN-backed plan to end the violence in the country. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images 9.12am: Bahrain is "very quiet and peaceful" according to Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone. In remarks quoted by the Associated Press following the FIA's decision to go ahead with the grand prix in the kingdom on 22 April, he said: There's nothing happening [in Bahrain]. I know people that live there and it's all very quiet and peaceful ... I'm happy that our position is quite clear. We don't get involved in politics in a country ... They will sort out their internal problems [in Bahrain], I'm quite sure. 8.53am: Good morning. We shall be following developments across the region but today, once again, our main focus will be on Syria where the ceasefire has entered its second day and may come under further strain if protesters heed the opposition's call for street demonstrations. Clashes have broken out this morning between Syrian troops and rebels in the Turkish border area, near the village of Khirbel el-Joz, according to a British-based activist organisation, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian opposition has called for peaceful protests today, but with government tanks and troops still in position in towns and cities it is unclear whether large-scale gatherings will be feasible. Burhan Ghalioun of the opposition Syrian National Council has urged demonstrators to "put the regime in front of its responsibilities put the international community in front of its responsibilities." A draft UN security council resolution envisages sending 20-30 unarmed observers to Syria to monitor compliance with Kofi Annan's peace plan. A vote on the resolution is possible later today and if it is approved the observers could arrive early next week. In what looks like a definitive statement on the Bahrain grand prix, the FIA - the governing body of Formula One - says the controversial race will definitely go ahead on 22 April. The FIA said: "Based on the current information the FIA has at this stage, it is satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula One World Championship event in Bahrain. Therefore, the FIA confirms that the 2012 Gulf Air F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain will go ahead as scheduled. In the continuing tussle over preparations for Egypt's presidential election, parliament - which is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood - has voted to ban candidates who held senior posts under ex-president Mubarak. This would exclude Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, who has declared himself a candidate. The battle over who can or cannot stand is likely to continue however, and the justice ministry has already said parliament's move is unconstitutional.