Syria allows Arab League observer mission into the countryNovember 18, 2011 - 18:31 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria has agreed "in principle" to allow an observer mission into the country, a senior official in Damascus said, as fresh anti-government protests erupted and France called for the UN to act against President Bashar Assad. The Arab League formally suspended Damascus this week over its crackdown on an eight-month-old uprising, which the UN estimates has killed more than 3,500 people. The group wants to send hundreds of observers to try to help end the bloodshed. "Syria has agreed in principle to the Arab League proposal (for observers) and we are still studying the details," the senior Syrian official said. He asked not to be named. Arab League officials in Cairo, the seat of the 22-member organisation, could not be immediately reached for comment. Mr Assad is facing mounting pressure from home and abroad over the country's crisis, which appears to be spiralling out of control as attacks by army defectors increase and some protesters take up arms to protect themselves. The escalating violence has raised fears of civil war. "We call on the Syrian opposition to avoid recourse to an armed insurrection," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara, Turkey. "A civil war would of course be a true catastrophe." Asked about the possibility of foreign intervention, Mr Juppe said: "This would have to be within the framework of the UN Security Council." He also called on the UN Security Council to act against Mr Assad's regime, saying the time has come to strengthen sanctions against Syria. "We must continue to exert pressure," Mr Juppe said. "The UN must act ... it is not normal for the UN Security Council not to act." Mr Davutoglu, responding to a question on whether his country would support a no-fly zone over Syria, said there might be need to enforce some measures if Syria maintains its crackdown on civilians. He said the first actions should be economic, but "other options must be evaluated later", UKPA 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 | 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 province Narek 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. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |