Syria agrees to Arab League observers
Source: Agencies |
November 19, 2011, Saturday
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SYRIA has agreed "in principle" to allow an observer mission into the country, according to a senior official in Damascus, as fresh anti-government protests erupted and France called for the United Nations Security Council to act against President Bashar Assad.
The Arab League formally suspended Damascus this week over its crackdown on an eight-month uprising, which the UN estimates has killed more than 3,500 people. The league wants to send hundreds of observers to the country to try to help end the bloodshed.
"Syria has agreed in principle to the Arab League proposal (for observers) and we are still studying the details," the senior Syrian official said.
The state television of neighboring Egypt reported that the head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, said he received "amendments" from Damascus, which the league is studying.
Assad is facing mounting pressure from home and abroad over the country's crisis, which appears to be spiraling out of control as attacks by army defectors increase and some protesters take up arms. The escalating violence has raised fears of civil war.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: "We call on the Syrian opposition to avoid recourse to an armed insurrection. A civil war would be a true catastrophe."
Asked about the possibility of foreign intervention, Juppe said: "This would have to be within the framework of the UN Security Council."
He also called on the Security Council to act against Assad's government, saying the time has come to strengthen sanctions against Syria.
"We must continue to exert pressure," he said. "It is not normal for the Security Council not to act."
The Arab League formally suspended Damascus this week over its crackdown on an eight-month uprising, which the UN estimates has killed more than 3,500 people. The league wants to send hundreds of observers to the country to try to help end the bloodshed.
"Syria has agreed in principle to the Arab League proposal (for observers) and we are still studying the details," the senior Syrian official said.
The state television of neighboring Egypt reported that the head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, said he received "amendments" from Damascus, which the league is studying.
Assad is facing mounting pressure from home and abroad over the country's crisis, which appears to be spiraling out of control as attacks by army defectors increase and some protesters take up arms. The escalating violence has raised fears of civil war.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: "We call on the Syrian opposition to avoid recourse to an armed insurrection. A civil war would be a true catastrophe."
Asked about the possibility of foreign intervention, Juppe said: "This would have to be within the framework of the UN Security Council."
He also called on the Security Council to act against Assad's government, saying the time has come to strengthen sanctions against Syria.
"We must continue to exert pressure," he said. "It is not normal for the Security Council not to act."
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