Syria faces new Arab deadline
SYRIA: The Arab League yesterday awaited Syria’s response to a
deadline to allow in observers to monitor the country’s unrest, a day
after the pan-Arab body slapped sanctions on senior Syrian officials.
The new deadline came as 23 people were reported killed on Saturday
across Syria, and after the UN Human Rights Council urged tougher action
against Damascus, condemning its “gross violation” of human rights.
An Arab League ministerial committee slapped 19 top officials with a
ban on travel to Arab states in addition to setting the deadline to
accept observers.
“During the meeting we contacted Damascus... and we asked them to
come tomorrow (Sunday, to Doha) to sign” the protocol on sending
observers, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani said,
announcing the deadline.
“We are waiting for a reply,” he added. “As Arabs we fear that if the
situation continues things will get out of Arab control.”
Sheikh Hamad was speaking after a meeting to discuss Arab League
sanctions against Damascus over its bloody crackdown on more than eight
months of anti-regime protests.
AFP |
