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February 12, 2012

Arab League considers new Syria measures

Associated Press

CAIRO —

The Sudanese head of the Arab League observer mission to Syria resigned Sunday, hours before foreign ministers began to consider a proposal to send a new mission to the country including U.N. monitors, according to officials.

The group meeting in Cairo was also considering a proposal to expel Syrian ambassadors from Arab capitals.

At the same time, al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri threw the terror network's support behind Syrian rebels trying to topple President Bashar Assad, raising fears that Islamic extremists are exploiting the uprising that began peacefully but is quickly transforming into an armed insurgency. The regime has long blamed terrorists for the revolt, and al-Qaida's endorsement creates new difficulties for Western and Arab states trying to figure out a way to help force Assad out of power.

The Arab League has been at the forefront of regional efforts to end 11 months of bloodshed in Syria. The group put forward a plan that Assad agreed to in December, then sent in monitors to check whether the Syrian regime was complying. But when it became clear that Assad's regime was flouting the terms of the agreement and killings went on, the League pulled the observers out last month.

The League officials said the group would also call on Syrian opposition groups to close ranks and unite under one umbrella, a move that they said would place more pressure on the Assad regime.

Washington piled more pressure on Syria.

President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff Jacob Lew said it was only a matter of time before Assad's regime collapsed.

"The brutality of the Assad regime is unacceptable and has to end," he told "Fox News Sunday." The U.S. is pursuing "all avenues that we can" and that "there is no question that this regime will come to an end. The only question is when," he said.

The Arab League was considering whether to revive the observer mission, expanding it to include monitors from non-Arab, Muslim nations and the United Nations. However the Syrians would be unlikely to accept a new team.

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