Arab League Suspends Syria Observers Mission, Damascus Regrets, Russia Slams

Arab League Suspends Syria Observers Mission, Damascus Regrets

Local Editor

The Arab League halted on Saturday Syria observers mission due to “critical deteriorating conditions and rising violence” in the country. “It has been decided to immediately stop the work of the Arab League's mission to Syria pending presentation of the issue to the league's council” AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi announced in a statement. "The decision to suspend the observer mission was taken after a series of consultations with Arab foreign ministers because of the upsurge of violence whose victims are innocent civilians." Al-Arabi added that the decision came "after the Syrian government chose the option of escalation, which increased the number of victims." For its part, Syria said it was "surprised and regrets the decision taken by Arabi to suspend the observer mission after having decided (last week) to extend it for a month," state news agency SANA reported. An unidentified official accused Arabi of acting at the request of Qatar, which heads the League's committee on Syria. "This decision is aimed at increasing the pressure for foreign intervention," SANA quoted him as saying. "This will have a negative impact and put pressure on [Security Council] deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence”, State TV said in the news flash. The 165 League observers were deployed a month ago after Syria agreed to a League plan foreseeing a halt to the violence, prisoners freed, tanks withdrawn from built-up areas and free movement of observers and foreign media.

Source: Agencies

Russia Slams Halt of Arab Observer Mission in Syria

Local Editor

Russia condemned on Sunday the suspension of Arab monitoring mission in Syria, saying it was surprised by the decision taken by the Arab League. The condemnation was announced by the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who said: “We would like to know why they are treating such a useful instrument in this way”. "We are surprised that after a decision was taken on prolonging the observers' mission for another month, some countries, particularly Persian Gulf countries, recalled their observers from the mission”, Lavrov said on a visit to Brunei. “I would support an increased number of observers”, Lavrov was quoted by the Russian ITAR-TASS news agency. Lavrov said that he did not back those Western countries that said the mission was pointless and that it was impossible to hold dialogue with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. "I think these are very irresponsible statements because trying to sabotage a chance to calm the situation is absolutely unforgivable,"Lavrov said, cited by the Interfax news agency. The Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi announced on Saturday the halt of Syria observers’ mission because of escalating violence in the country. Russian has repeatedly said it would oppose any UN Security Council resolution against Syria, stressing that such resolution would surpass the “red lines” it has drawn.

Source: Agencies

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