Arab League Plan for Syria May Go to UN Security Council
Citing Damascus’ delay in responding to proposals, Qatari PM says regional organization might defer matter to world body
The Arab League may ask the U.N. Security Council to adopt an Arab peace plan aimed at ending Syria’s violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani said Saturday that Syria is delaying its response to the Arab peace proposal.
He said Arab foreign ministers will meet in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss taking the peace plan to the U.N. Security Council if Syria does not accept the plan and begin carrying it out. His remarks appeared to rule out any military action by the Arab League against Syria.
The prime minister was speaking in the Qatari capital, Doha, after an emergency meeting of the Arab League.
The Arab peace plan calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw his forces from restive cities, free prisoners and start a reform-minded dialogue with the opposition.