Tag Archives: Syria

The Arab League asked the UN Security Council to back its peace plan in Syria. Russia said it would promote its own peace plan at the UN.

The head of the Syrian Red Crescent was shot dead. The UN Security Council is considering a Western and Arab League resolution calling for President Assad to step down. Russia said it would resist any UN-led sanctions. US and Russian diplomats held talks in Moscow to resolve differences over Syria.

Following Saudi Arabia’s lead, the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council – Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE – withdrew their monitors from the Arab League mission. The GCC also called on the UN Security Council to take up the issue. Syria agreed to a one-month extension of the monitoring mission.

Syria rejected an Arab League-sponsored plan for President Assad to step down and hand over power to his deputy, calling it flagrant interference in Syria’s internal affairs. The EU expanded sanctions. Russia signed a $550 million deal to sell Syria 36 jet aircraft.

The Arab League extended its monitoring mission for another month and declined an opposition request to refer the matter to the UN. Saudi Arabia withdrew from the mission, saying the “Syrian government did not execute any of the elements of the Arab resolution plan.”

Arab League monitors ended their mission although killings persisted, and will release their report this weekend. Syrian troops withdrew from a mountain town, allowing the opposition to take control. The EU planned new economic sanctions. Russia said it would block any Western military intervention in Syria.

Britain called for harsher sanctions on Syria, while Russia said it would work with China to block efforts at the UN. Senior Hamas leaders are evacuating their families from Damascus.

The government rejected a call for Arab troops to be sent to stop the violence. Hamas leaders evacuated their families due to the deteriorating security situation. Both the US and France said Iran was supplying Syria with weapons.

Qatar’s Emir called for Arab troops to be sent to Syria. The Arab League said there was no plan to do so at this time. As Syrian army desertions continued, a former army general announced the creation of a council to oversee all military operations against the Assad regime.

The first Western journalist was killed in Syria’s uprising. An Arab League monitor resigned, calling the mission a farce and accusing the Syrian regime of war crimes.

In his first public speech since June, President Assad vowed to crush opponents with an “iron fist.” Pro-Assad supporters attacked Arab League monitors. The general in charge of the monitors said the mission was just starting and that he was seeing “enough” cooperation from the regime. Israel is preparing for the fall of the regime.