Arab League fails to agree on Syria

ARAB FOREIGN ministers failed to reach agreement yesterday during a meeting in Cairo to discuss boosting pressure on Syria to end a crackdown on protesters as 121 human rights groups called on the organisation to take action to prevent Syria from sliding into civil war.

Discord arose over a Saudi call for suspension of Syria from Arab League membership. Activists say 3,000 protesters have been slain since mid-March.

The emergency session was requested by the six member Gulf Co-operation Council, dominated by Saudi Arabia which has had contentious relations with Syria for several years because of Damascus’s close ties to Tehran.

Relations between Riyadh and Tehran have become even more strained since last weekend when the US detained Mansoor Arbabsiar, a US citizen of Iranian origin, for allegedly conspiring with an officer in Iran’s elite guards force to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington.

Riyadh has lodged a protest with the UN Security Council, while Iran has denied the charge.

As the ministers gathered, Syrian troops opened fire at the funeral of activist Ziad al-Obeidi, killed on Friday in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, and rounded up 44 dissidents in restive Damascus suburbs.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has formed a committee to draft a new constitution, a key demand of the protesters. In four months’ time, the text should be submitted to parliament, where it can be expected to receive the two-thirds majority necessary for adoption.

The International Crisis Group has reported that arms smuggling into Syria has soared since unrest erupted seven months ago. Pro- and anti-government elements are buying weapons for self-defence, said Peter Harling, an expert with the group.

In Cairo, a week after 27 civilians were killed when troops attacked mainly Christian protesters outside state television headquarters, Coptic Pope Shenouda III met members of the ruling military council at Cairo’s cathedral and discussed measures to prevent further violence.

Bishop Younas, one of the bishops attending the meeting, said the church showed video film of the clashes that “shocked” the delegation and led the officers to promise that all detained Coptic youths would be released.

On Saturday, the council announced that it would submit legislation penalising discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity or sex.

Those convicted on such charges could face three months in jail and fines from about $8 to $17,000.

Human rights activists said this was a good first step.