Arab League, UN may form Syrian peacekeeping force
Source: Agencies |
February 13, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Arab League decided yesterday to ask the United Nations to form a joint UN-AL peacekeeping force for Syria, according to a resolution adopted by Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.
In the resolution, the regional bloc also decided to tighten economic sanctions on Syria, and called on Arab countries to stop all diplomatic cooperation with the Syrian regime, the latest effort by the regional group to end the 11-month old crisis that has killed over 5,000 people.
Syria is unlikely to accept a joint UN-Arab League peacekeeping force.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal conveyed the League's frustration with Syria by telling delegates it was no longer appropriate for the league to stand by and watch the bloodshed in Syria.
"Until when will we remain spectators?" he said. "It is a disgrace for us as Muslims and Arabs to accept" the bloodshed in Syria, he said.
The draft resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire in Syria and demands regime forces lift the siege on neighborhoods and villages and pull troops and their heavy weapons back to their barracks.
It urges Syrian opposition groups to unite ahead of a February 24 meeting in Tunisia of the "Friends of Syria" group," which includes the US, its European allies and Arab nations working to end the uprising against Assad's rule.
The creation of the group came after February 4 veto at the UN by Russia and China of a Western and Arab draft resolution that would have pressured Assad to step down.
The League also wants to provide the opposition groups with political and material support. It calls for a halt to all diplomatic contacts with Syria and for referring officials responsible for crimes against the Syrian people to international criminal tribunals. It urges a tightening of trade sanctions previously adopted by the League but not been fully implemented.
The group meeting in Cairo was also considering a proposal to expel Syrian ambassadors from Arab capitals.
The League officials said the group would also call on Syrian opposition groups to close ranks and unite under one umbrella, a move that they said would place more pressure on the Assad regime.
US President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff Jacob Lew said it was only a matter of time before Assad's regime collapsed.
"The brutality of the Assad regime is unacceptable and has to end," he told "Fox News Sunday." The US is pursuing "all avenues that we can" and that "there is no question that this regime will come to an end. The only question is when," he said.
Late Saturday, al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri threw the terror network's support behind Syrian rebels trying to topple President Bashar Assad, raising fears that Islamic extremists are exploiting the uprising that began peacefully but is turning into an armed insurgency.
In the resolution, the regional bloc also decided to tighten economic sanctions on Syria, and called on Arab countries to stop all diplomatic cooperation with the Syrian regime, the latest effort by the regional group to end the 11-month old crisis that has killed over 5,000 people.
Syria is unlikely to accept a joint UN-Arab League peacekeeping force.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal conveyed the League's frustration with Syria by telling delegates it was no longer appropriate for the league to stand by and watch the bloodshed in Syria.
"Until when will we remain spectators?" he said. "It is a disgrace for us as Muslims and Arabs to accept" the bloodshed in Syria, he said.
The draft resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire in Syria and demands regime forces lift the siege on neighborhoods and villages and pull troops and their heavy weapons back to their barracks.
It urges Syrian opposition groups to unite ahead of a February 24 meeting in Tunisia of the "Friends of Syria" group," which includes the US, its European allies and Arab nations working to end the uprising against Assad's rule.
The creation of the group came after February 4 veto at the UN by Russia and China of a Western and Arab draft resolution that would have pressured Assad to step down.
The League also wants to provide the opposition groups with political and material support. It calls for a halt to all diplomatic contacts with Syria and for referring officials responsible for crimes against the Syrian people to international criminal tribunals. It urges a tightening of trade sanctions previously adopted by the League but not been fully implemented.
The group meeting in Cairo was also considering a proposal to expel Syrian ambassadors from Arab capitals.
The League officials said the group would also call on Syrian opposition groups to close ranks and unite under one umbrella, a move that they said would place more pressure on the Assad regime.
US President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff Jacob Lew said it was only a matter of time before Assad's regime collapsed.
"The brutality of the Assad regime is unacceptable and has to end," he told "Fox News Sunday." The US is pursuing "all avenues that we can" and that "there is no question that this regime will come to an end. The only question is when," he said.
Late Saturday, al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri threw the terror network's support behind Syrian rebels trying to topple President Bashar Assad, raising fears that Islamic extremists are exploiting the uprising that began peacefully but is turning into an armed insurgency.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
