  Saudi prince: Arab states will not allow "massacre" of Syrian peopleDecember 10, 2011 - 09:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior Saudi prince said on Friday, December 9, that Arab states will not stay on the sidelines and allow the "massacre" of the Syrian people, and he suggested President Bashar al-Assad was unlikely to step down voluntarily. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria have stalled, with Assad rejecting a peace plan offered in early November by the 22-state Arab League. That plan calls for government forces to be withdrawn to barracks and Arab observers to be allowed into Syria. Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal, seen as influential though no longer holding public office, said he believes the Arab League is "not going to sit back and allow the continued massacre of the Syrian people". "Sanctions have been imposed. I think more measures will be undertaken in the near future," Prince Turki told a conference in Vienna. "I think as the killing continues they will definitely come along with the rest of us and see the leadership of Syria has to give up and hopefully in a less bloody way than is now being contemplated," Turki said. Asked whether there was any chance Saudi Arabia could help broker a possible power transfer deal as it did with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, he said: "I do not think so because Ali Abdullah Saleh, while delaying and playing for time...he in the end signed the deal. Getting Bashar al-Assad to sign on a deal has been the difficulty. The Arab League, the world community ... has offered Bashar al-Assad an opportunity to undertake a way out...He has refused and it is a pity because it means more bloodshed." The United Nations says at least 4,000 people have been killed in Assad's crackdown on protests. Turki said it was difficult to know how to proceed with Assad, who denies ordering his troops to kill peaceful demonstrators. "You have a president... who simply denies that there is anything wrong happening," he said, adding that this kind of leadership was "unacceptable", Reuters reported.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus  The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said.Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush provinceNarek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28.Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. |
