Monday 17 October 2011

Arab League Meets on Syria after Western UN Move Failed

After the failure of US-sponsored UN action against Syria, Arab foreign ministers met Sunday at the group's Cairo headquarters behind closed doors for an initial 3-hour session without Syria's representative, then took a break and reconvened for talks with Syrian diplomats that lasted late into the night.

After deliberations continued throughout the day Sunday, and moved between hotels and the headquarters of the Arab League, Arab ministers came out yesterday to declare the formation of a liaison committee with Syria to hold a dialogue session between the Authority and the opposition in the League Headquarter in Cairo during the 15 days.

Just after the meeting with Syrian diplomats, Qatar Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim made no mention of a possible suspension and instead gave Syria a 15-day deadline to enact a cease-fire.
Syrian state TV reported that Damascus was not eager to hold the dialogue in Cairo, suggesting it should be held in Syria instead.

The newly formed Syrian National Council, a broad based opposition umbrella group, was also seen unlikely to accept the call for dialogue, though some factions within the fragmented opposition who might be willing to hold talks.
Syria's ambassador to the Arab League, Youssef Ahmad, held up a document he said was shared with the Arab foreign ministers. In it, he alleged, was proof that weapons from Israel had been found in Syria among the protesters.
"The Syrian opposition is also getting logistical support from Arab countries," he said in his public remarks to the body. The Syrian regime frequently insists that outside forces are fomenting the violence.
This comes as five Syrian soldiers have been killed in clashes with armed men in the central province of Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
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