Arab Ministers Discuss Syria Sanctions in Cairo

Local Editor

Arab Finance ministers gathered in Cairo on Saturday to discuss possible sanctions on Syria.

The finance ministers were to thrash out a package -- expected to include the suspension of flights and freezing of government assets -- which will then be put to foreign ministers on Sunday.

For his part, Syrian Economy Minister warned that the damage of the sanctions would be to all sides.
"If that is to happen, it will be very unfortunate because the damage will be to all sides," Mohammed Nidal al-Shaar told Agence France Press.

But "we don't expect all Arab countries to yield or participate in sanctions," he added.
"In fact, we are almost certain that some Arab countries will not participate."

The Arab League had set a Friday deadline for the regime to agree to the details of the observers' mission, part of a reform deal that Damascus had previously said it accepted.
However, the ultimatum for Damascus to accept observers or face sanctions passed on Friday without a response from Syria.

On the other hand, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he would join Sunday's meeting to “harmonies” his government's own measures with those of the Arab League, saying that Ankara's former ally had missed its "last chance" by failing to heed the Arab ultimatum.

Davutoglu said the Damascus regime's refusal to allow in observers could only mean it had something to conceal.
"Syria was expected to say yes to the observers... unless there is a reality it hides about the situation in Syrian cities," Davutoglu said after the deadline's expiry.

"As it said no, it increased... the concerns on the humanitarian situation," he said, in the wake of UN estimates that the crackdown has cost more than 3,500 lives since March.

• Iraq Voices Reservation on Syria Sanctions

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian