Syria Suspended From Arab League Till It Ends Killings

CAIRO: The Arab League on Saturday suspended Syria until president Bashar al-Assad implements an Arab deal to end violence against protesters , and called for sanctions and transition talks with the opposition.

A statement, read by Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani , said the League decided "to suspend Syrian delegations' activities in Arab League meetings" if it continued to stall the Arab plan and to implement "economic and political sanctions against Syrian government."

It also called for the withdrawal of Arab ambassadors from Damascus, but left the decision to each Arab state. Sheikh Hamad said the decision would take effect on November 16. The statement warned that Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi would contact international organizations concerned with human rights, "including the UN" , if the bloodshed continued. It called for a meeting in Cairo with Syrian opposition groups in three days to "agree to a unified vision for the coming transitional period in Syria" . AFP

Obama praises League decision

US president Barack Obama on Saturday praised the "leadership" of the Arab League after the grouping suspended Syria in a move that deepened the Damascus government's isolation. "I applaud the important decisions taken by the Arab League, including suspension of Syria's membership," Obama said. "After the Assad regime failed to keep its commitments, the Arab League has demonstrated leadership in its effort to end the crisis and hold Syria accountable,"s he added.

EU backs Syria suspension

The European Union backed the Arab League's decision on Saturday to suspend Syria until president Bashar al-Assad implements a deal to end violence. We fully support the decisions taken by the Arab League which show the increasing isolation of the Syrian regime," a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.

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