EGYPT: Protesters in Cairo demand Arab League suspends Syria

Record ID: 278951

  • Title: EGYPT: Protesters in Cairo demand Arab League suspends Syria
  • Date: 17th October 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (OCTOBER 16, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ARAB LEAGUE
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAARUM5DI4FSD94AH6A4H32BO56
  • Story Text: Arab foreign ministers will discuss whether to suspend Syria from the regional body at a meeting on Sunday (October 16), with some states still opposed to such a move.
    A small number of anti-Syrian government protesters gathered outside the League headquarters in advance of this evening's meetings, chanting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave power.
    The protesters, mostly Syrians living in Cairo, danced and sang a popular anti-government song popular amongst Syrian demonstrators calling for al-Assad to step down. The song's composer was reportedly killed by Syrian security forces.
    Al-Assad has intensified a military crackdown to crush protests demanding his resignation and democratization. The United Nations says the crackdown has killed 3,000 people.
    In March the Arab League suspended the Libyan government's membership and called for a no-fly zone to protect civilians.
    Observers say the 22 member organization is unlikely to call for military action of any kind against Syria and the head of the League has made clear that the member states are opposed to outside intervention in Syria.
    One protester outside the League said that the Arab League had already waited too long to act.
    "We are here in order to send a message to the Arab League, a concise and very strong message -- 'You are complicit in the shedding of our blood. By acknowledging until now, this character inside, Walid al-Muallem, as foreign minister, you are giving legitimacy to al-Asad, who has been murdering us for the past seven months," said Firas Tamim.
    Sources say that the League will demand that the Syrian government to lay down a timetable for pulling out of Syrian towns and to stop killing civilians.
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