25-04-2024 08:28 PM Jerusalem Timing

AL Asks to Meet Ban on Syria, GCC Withdraws Observers

AL Asks to Meet Ban on Syria, GCC Withdraws Observers

AL formally requested on Tuesday a meeting with UN Chief over the Syrian crisis. Meanwhile, the GCC announced they would recall their observers in Syria


The Arab League has formally requested on Tuesday a meeting with UN Chief over the Syrian crisis. Meanwhile, the Gulf Arab states announced they would recall their observers in Syria, urging UN Security Council to step up pressure on Damascus.


The pan-Arab body's secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani issued the request, deputy secretary Ahmad bin Helli told Agence France Press.


Helli said the league ask for the meeting in order to present its proposals on resolving the Syria crisis and demand support from the UN Security Council.


On the other hand, the Gulf Cooperation Council said they would pull out their observers in Syria.


"Gulf Cooperation Council states have decided to follow Saudi Arabia's decision to pull out its observers from the Arab League mission in Syria," the Arab states said in a joint statement.


The six GCC states said their decision came after "closely following developments in Syria and after they have confirmed that the bloodshed and killings there continue (and after) the Syrian regime did not comply with implementing the Arab League decisions."


They also called on "members of the UN Security Council... to take all needed measures at the Security Council to press Syria to implement the Arab League decisions and the Arab initiative on Syria."


Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it was withdrawing its observers from Syria in protest at what it called Damascus’ failure to respect an Arab League plan aimed at ending the unrest in Syria.