Arab League Quits Mission in Syria - East Idaho News
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Arab League Quits Mission in Syria

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123906093?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1327916414695JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images(DAMASCUS, Syria) — The Arab League understood it was involved in a losing cause when it announced over the weekend that its mission in Syria would be discontinued.

Observers were sent in earlier this month to determine if President Bashar al-Assad’s government was following an agreement to remove soldiers and heavy artillery from cities in an attempt to end a 10-month violent crackdown on political dissidents.

Instead, the violence, which has taken 5,500 lives, grew worse and the Arab League decided its mission was having no effect while putting its own members in danger.

By Sunday, government forces were battling protesters and army deserters in areas of the capital city of Damascus, resulting in casualties on both sides.

The Arab League wants the United Nations Security Council to issue a resolution calling for sanctions against Syria but faces a roadblock from al-Assad’s ally Russia if it attempts such a move.

Meanwhile, there’s also little hope that the president will follow an Arab League directive to step aside so that a transitional government can be formed in advance of general elections.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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