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Arab states seek end to violence in Syria A meeting by Arab League chief Nabil El-Arabi and Arab ministers stresses ending the use of arms by the Syrian regime,and supports Palestinian UN statehood bid
Arab League states want Syria to use dialogue, not arms, to address a five-month-old rebellion that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has tried to crush with tanks and troops, the League's chairman told a foreign ministers' meeting on Tuesday. But Arab ministers will also consider a call to reject unilateral US sanctions against Damascus, according to a draft resolution obtained by Reuters. The United States, which has imposed limits on trade with Syria under its 2004 Syria Accountability Act -- referred to inthe draft as "a violation of international law", has stepped up sanctions to include Assad, several aides and businesses. Arab League chief Nabil El-Arabi said he had agreed a series of measures with Assad on Saturday after a visit to Damascus, and would present them to ministers at the meeting in Cairo that was called to discuss Syria and other Arab issues. "We think the solution must come through ending the use of arms, putting an end to bloodshed and resorting to wisdom and dialogue," said Sheikh Hamad, who is also Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister. In his opening address, Sheikh Hamad also urged the international community to back a Palestinian bid for statehood, which Arabs will support at the United Nations this month. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Arab states had agreed to push for Palestinian membership of the United Nations despite a US threat to block such a move. Arab foreign ministers, who began efforts in July to organise backing for the Palestinian bid, decided to set up a team comprising the Arab League head and six League members to further pursue the controversial application, due to be submitted when the UN General Assembly opens on 19 Sept. El-Arabi said Arab states were in contact with various parties to ensure widest recognition of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians decided to seek UN recognition of statehood after years of negotiations with Israel failed to deliver the independent state they want to establish in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
