Arab League demands Syria to stop violence

GlobalPost

The Arab League demanded on Sunday the Syrian government to halt all violence and allow more monitors in as Syria waits to hear the League’s initial reports today.

Activists and media reported fresh clashes in the south between military defectors and Syrian security forces, killing more than 10 civilians and 11 soldiers, according to the Associated Press.

The Syrian government has killed more than 450 people since League monitors entered the country two weeks ago, activists said. More than 5,000 civilians have been killed since the government revolt started in March, according to the UN.

More from GlobalPost: Syria: Protesters clash with troops during Arab League's stay 

The reports could not be independently confirmed as Syria tightly limits access to foreign and local journalists.

The Arab League’s work in Syria has been criticized amid continuing violence in Syria. The AP reported:

"The Qatari foreign minister told reporters after the meeting that the League is aware that the mission has not fulfilled its goal of stopping the bloodshed.

‘Is what happened, ideal? We want to do more,’ he said. ‘We know that the Syrian people have made a decision, but what we want is to lessen the losses, human losses.’"

Activists in the restive city of Homs told CNN that President Bashar al Assad’s regime is deceiving League monitors by merely working around their schedule.

More from GlobalPost: Syria: Tanks pull back as Arab League monitors arrive in Homs

Sudanese Lt. Gen. Mohammed al-Dabi, the head of the League mission, is scheduled to announce the results of their observation mission on Sunday and determine how to address the continued violence in Syria, the Christian Science Monitor reported. The League is showing signs they may seek assistance from the UN.

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