Syria has accepted the fact-finding mission protocol put forward by the Arab League without qualification. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Makdad is in Cairo to sign the protocol later today. The Syrian government held reservations about the protocol early this week, with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem raising questions about violating the country's sovereignty as a result of the mission's “pervasive jurisdiction.” Arab League ministers are due to meet today to discuss imposing sanctions on Syria, which has already been suspended from the Arab League after failing to comply with a week-long deadline to end a violent crackdown against anti-government protesters and embark on a process political reform. Sources have revealed that Saudi Arabia has joined the ministerial committee in charge of following the Syrian crisis. The committee started its functions stipulated in a statement produced last week in an Arab League leaders' meeting in Rabat, Morocco.
