Arab League to sanction Syrians

EGYPT. November 12. KAZINFORM The Arab League is to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose political and economic sanctions against Damascus over its failure to end a government crackdown on protesters; Kazinform refers to BBC.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Egypt.

It came after Syria ignored an Arab League proposal envisaging the start of dialogue with the Syrian opposition.

The UN says more than 3,500 people have died in the protests so far.

The Arab League proposals - accepted by the government of President Bashar al-Assad - include the release of prisoners, the withdrawal of security forces from the streets and talks between the government and opposition.

But the violence has continued, with the city of Homs bearing the brunt, say human rights activists.

US-based Human rights Watch issued a report this week documenting allegations of torture and unlawful killings in the city.

President Assad has sought to put down the protests since March.