Heading home
January 24, 2012
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced on Tuesday that it was withdrawing its observers from the Arab League mission in Syria, urging the UN Security Council to press Damascus to implement the League's proposed changes.
"Gulf Cooperation Council states have decided to follow Saudi Arabia's decision to pull out its observers from the Arab League mission in Syria," the GCC said in a joint statement.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Syria has come under intense international scrutiny for its handling of more than 10 months of public unrest. According to UN estimates, more than 5,000 people have been killed since the public began voicing its dissatisfaction with President Bashar al-Assad. Syria, meanwhile, claims it is fighting a terrorist insurgency.
The statement also said that the GCC was "certain the bloodshed and killing of innocents would continue, and that the Syrian regime would not abide by the Arab League's resolutions."
Arab League demands
The team of regional observers sent to Syria in December issued their recommendations on Sunday, advocating the swift formation of a national unity government and also calling for Assad to cede his powers to his deputy, who would then cooperate with the unity government until elections could be organized. They also concluded that the observation team should continue its work for another month.
After issuing an immediate rebuttal via its state news agency on Monday, the Syrian government officially rejected these suggestions on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, speaking in Damascus, accused the Arab League of intentionally reaching conclusions that Syria would not accept - namely the effective resignation of President Assad.
"Instead of discussing the [Arab monitors'] report, they took a political decision that attacks Syrian sovereignty and which they knew in advance we would not accept," al-Moallem said.
Meanwhile, the Arab League has formally requested an audience with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to ask for the Security Council's support trying to implement its plan for Syria. The bloc's secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani jointly submitted the request.
Sheikh Hamad had previously warned that the Arab League would seek Security Council support if Syria did not adopt its proposed changes.
Author: Mark Hallam (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Editor: Andrew Bowen