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Sanctions a 'declaration of war' says Syria
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2011, Tuesday
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THE Arab League's newly approved sanctions against Damascus amount to "a declaration of economic war," Syria's foreign minister said yesterday.
Defiant Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem insisted the Syrian people will be the ones to suffer, and the government will survive.
"Let them study the history of Syria very well," al-Moallem said. "Neither warnings nor sanctions will work with us."
In an unprecedented move against a fellow Arab state, the 22-member Arab League approved sanctions last Sunday to pressure the regime to end its suppression of an eight-month revolt. According to the United Nations, the crackdown has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths.
The sanctions by Syria's Arab neighbors include blocking transactions with the Syrian central bank, and are expected to squeeze an ailing economy already under sanctions from the US and the European Union.
The response from Damascus is that Syria is the victim of a foreign-supported insurgency by armed gangs. In an attempt to bolster that contention, al-Moallem showed reporters videos of charred and bloodied corpses.
"I am sorry for these gruesome pictures, but they are a gift to the members of the Arab League, who still deny the presence of these armed gangs," he said.
Tens of thousands of government supporters flocked to main squares yesterday in almost all cities, including the capital Damascus, to denounce the Arab League decision. State TV quoted demonstrators as saying the sanctions target all segments of the population.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said the bloc will reconsider the sanctions if Syria carries out an Arab-brokered plan calling for the removal of tanks from the streets and an end to violence against civilians.
Defiant Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem insisted the Syrian people will be the ones to suffer, and the government will survive.
"Let them study the history of Syria very well," al-Moallem said. "Neither warnings nor sanctions will work with us."
In an unprecedented move against a fellow Arab state, the 22-member Arab League approved sanctions last Sunday to pressure the regime to end its suppression of an eight-month revolt. According to the United Nations, the crackdown has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths.
The sanctions by Syria's Arab neighbors include blocking transactions with the Syrian central bank, and are expected to squeeze an ailing economy already under sanctions from the US and the European Union.
The response from Damascus is that Syria is the victim of a foreign-supported insurgency by armed gangs. In an attempt to bolster that contention, al-Moallem showed reporters videos of charred and bloodied corpses.
"I am sorry for these gruesome pictures, but they are a gift to the members of the Arab League, who still deny the presence of these armed gangs," he said.
Tens of thousands of government supporters flocked to main squares yesterday in almost all cities, including the capital Damascus, to denounce the Arab League decision. State TV quoted demonstrators as saying the sanctions target all segments of the population.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said the bloc will reconsider the sanctions if Syria carries out an Arab-brokered plan calling for the removal of tanks from the streets and an end to violence against civilians.
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