Arab League Suspends Syria, Calls For Sanctions
Updated: Saturday, 12 Nov 2011, 8:31 AM CST
Published : Saturday, 12 Nov 2011, 8:31 AM CST
(NewsCore) - The Arab League on Saturday suspended Syria until President Bashar al Assad implements an Arab deal to end violence against protesters, and called for sanctions and transition talks with the opposition.
A statement read by Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassem al Thani said the group decided "to suspend Syrian delegations' activities in Arab League meetings" if it continued to stall the Arab plan and to implement "economic and political sanctions against the Syrian government."
It also called for the withdrawal of Arab ambassadors from Damascus, but left the decision to each Arab state.
Sheikh Hamad said at a news conference the decision would take effect Nov. 16.
The statement warned that Arab League secretary-general Nabil al Arabi would contact international organizations concerned with human rights, "including the United Nations," if the bloodshed continued.
It called for a meeting in Cairo with Syrian opposition groups in three days to "agree a unified vision for the coming transitional period in Syria."
A week of deadly violence in city of Homs overshadowed the meeting, in which Arab ministers appeared divided on what measure to take but eventually voted by a majority on the final statement.
Assad's regime agreed Nov. 2 to an Arab roadmap which called for the release of detainees, the withdrawal of the army from urban areas and free movement for observers and the media, as well as negotiations with the opposition.
Instead, human rights groups say, the regime has intensified its crackdown on dissent, especially in flashpoint Homs, killing at least 125 people in the city since signing onto the League's deal.
More than 3,500 people have died in protests since mid-March, according to a UN estimate.
Copyright 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.
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