Arab League wants Syria observer mission to go on

Foreign Ministers from the Arab League say its monitors should pursue their controversial peace mission to Syria.

Discussing the observers’ first report, the ministers, meeting in Cairo, also urged Syria’s government and “all armed groups “to put an immediate stop to violence.

The mission has been criticised for failing to halt the bloodshed or firmly condemn it. Syrians living in Egypt demonstrated outside the talks, demanding the UN take over.

“We are protesting here to send a message to the Arab League that the time they are giving to the Syrian authorities is allowing Syrian people to be killed,” said Kamal Mahmoud, one of those taking part.

“The Arab League is participating in the spilling of Syrian blood. We are asking them to pull out their observers and to transfer the dossier to the United Nations because the Arab League is weak when it comes to protecting Syrians.”

Syria’s opposition has accused the observers of being ‘manipulated ‘by the regime as a 10-month crackdown on unrest continues.

Activists reported more than 20 deaths on Sunday, including 11 soldiers killed in clashes with deserters.

This follows Friday’s bombing in Damascus that authorities said claimed 26 lives.

According to the UN, more than 5,000 people have been killed in the uprising against President Assad.

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