Arab League extends observer mission in Syria
(23 Jan 2012) 1. Wide of news conference held by Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Elaraby and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: "Formation of a unity government with the opposition in two weeks with an acceptable figure to all parties to lead the country through a transitional period in which parliamentary and presidential elections would be held and with an Arab and international supervision, and to give some power to his deputy to assist the unity government through transitional period." 3. Mid of news conference 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: "We are going to take all the files to the Security Council, not to ask them for a solution for us, there is a solution and the last solution is the initiative today, the Arab initiative which is almost like the Yemeni initiative in a way, this is the initiative which all the Arabs even the Algerians have accepted. And this is what we need the Security Council to endorse it and to try, there is also other things been taken by the Arab League which the security council could endorse it, one of them if the Syrian dose not implement there is the economic boycott there is many other things in the Arab communique as before that they can consider to take it. We did not discuss or agree about any military action." 5. Mid of news conference 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: "I respect the frustration of the Saudis, we feel all of us frustration because more than 20 days the Arab monitors are in Syria and still is the killing there still there is a lot of things in the protocol that the Syrian government did not implement and I respect their decision." 7. Wide of news conference STORYLINE The Arab League has extended their much-criticised observer mission in Syria for another month, according to officials from the 22-member organisation. The decision was made during a meeting between Arab foreign ministers on Sunday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The League decided to add more observers and provide them with additional resources, the officials said. Speaking after the meeting, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim outlined a series of ambitious reforms the Arab League wants Syria to undertake. "Formation of a unity government with the opposition in two weeks with an acceptable figure to all parties to lead the country through a transitional period in which parliamentary and presidential elections would be held and with an Arab and international supervision, and to give some power to his deputy to assist the unity government through transitional period." During the proceedings, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal announced that his country would pull out its observers because the Syrian government had failed to comply with the Arab League's plan to end the violence. He urged other countries, including China, Russia, Europe and the US to put pressure on President Bashar Assad's government to stop the bloodshed. "I respect the frustration of the Saudis, we feel all of us frustration because more than 20 days the Arab monitors are in Syria and still is the killing there still there is a lot of things in the protocol that the Syrian government did not implement and I respect their decision," Bin Jassim said. The UN estimates some 5,400 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad began in March. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
