EGYPT: A team of Arab observers prepares to travel to Syria after authorities sign an agreement to allow monitors in

Record ID: 280117

  • Title: EGYPT: A team of Arab observers prepares to travel to Syria after authorities sign an agreement to allow monitors in
  • Date: 27th December 2011
  • Summary: BANNER OUTSIDE ARAB LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS SHOWING HEAVILY BLEEDING SYRIAN
  • Embargoed: 11th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD7KVV2WE0J1LHQSU80GQJQI78
  • Story Text: A team of Arab observers will arrive in Syria on Monday (December 26) evening to assess whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is going to implement an Arab peace plan to stop a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
    The team which includes observers from around ten Arab states arrived at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo for a de-briefing by Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.
    An observer from the United Arab Emirates told Reuters that they will travel in the evening.
    "God willing, we will depart tonight at 6 p.m. and may God be with us for whatever is in the best interests of the Syrian people," said Mohamed Salem Elmekawy.
    Elmekawy stressed on the Syrian government's responsibility to provide protection for the observers who are expected to issue on-the-ground reports on the situation in Syria.
    "After the Syrian government signed the protocol, it is now bound by several points such as providing security for the observers, allowing them to freely roam the streets, visit prisons, and to meet with the opposition. God willing, we will report on the events to provide a realistic depiction of the Syrian people's situation," he said.
    Syria has barred most foreign journalists since the revolt began, making it hard to verify reports of events on the ground Arab League states persuaded Assad, after six weeks of threats and cajoling, to let 150 observers in.
    The first group of about 50 monitors, led by Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi, will be divided into five 10-man teams going to five locations.
    "We are there in cooperation with the Syrian authorities, we will listen to the opinions of citizens, personnel and members of the opposition and then we will produce a report, not an opinion; because we will not travel to communicate opinions, but to report on information concerning the extent of which the Syrian government has implemented their five obligations. Have armed personnel been evacuated from streets, has Syria paved the way for mass media to report on the grounds, have the political prisoners been released? this is why we're going," said Moroccan observer Talaa Al-Saud Al-Atlasy.
    The United Nations says at least 5,000 Syrians have been killed the revolt, inspired by other Arab uprisings this year that have toppled three dictators, broke out in March - and an estimated one-third of deaths have occurred in and around Homs.
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