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Arab League sanctions for Syria Arab League sanctions for Syria
(40 minutes later)
  
The Arab League has voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions against Damascus over its failure to end a government crackdown on protesters.The Arab League has voted to suspend Syria from its meetings and impose sanctions against Damascus over its failure to end a government crackdown on protesters.
It asked member states to withdraw their ambassadors, and urged Damascus to end violence against protesters.It asked member states to withdraw their ambassadors, and urged Damascus to end violence against protesters.
The vote came after Syria ignored an Arab League proposal envisaging the start of dialogue with the opposition.The vote came after Syria ignored an Arab League proposal envisaging the start of dialogue with the opposition.
But Syria's representative said the decision violated the league's charter.But Syria's representative said the decision violated the league's charter.
Youssef Ahmed told Syrian state TV said it showed the league was "serving a Western and American agenda".Youssef Ahmed told Syrian state TV said it showed the league was "serving a Western and American agenda".
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.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. But the violence has continued, with the city of Homs bearing the brunt, say human rights activists. Twelve died on Saturday.
US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report this week documenting allegations of torture and unlawful killings in the city, and called on the Arab League to step up pressure on Damascus.US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report this week documenting allegations of torture and unlawful killings in the city, and called on the Arab League to step up pressure on Damascus.
The Arab League has taken tougher action against Syria than anyone expected. The moves will dramatically increase the isolation of President Assad's government.The Arab League has taken tougher action against Syria than anyone expected. The moves will dramatically increase the isolation of President Assad's government.
The League has even threatened to refer the issue to the United Nations. And opposition groups are being invited to Arab League Headquarters so they can agree on a unified position.The League has even threatened to refer the issue to the United Nations. And opposition groups are being invited to Arab League Headquarters so they can agree on a unified position.
Syria immediately reacted furiously. The measures will be a damaging wound to the pride of a country proud of its Arab identity.Syria immediately reacted furiously. The measures will be a damaging wound to the pride of a country proud of its Arab identity.
President Assad has sought to put down the protests since March. The UN says more than 3,500 people have died in the protests so far.President Assad has sought to put down the protests since March. The UN says more than 3,500 people have died in the protests so far.
'Concern for Syria''Concern for Syria'
Eighteen Arab League member states voted at the Cairo meeting to suspend Syria, with Syria, Lebanon and Yemen voting against and Iraq abstaining.Eighteen Arab League member states voted at the Cairo meeting to suspend Syria, with Syria, Lebanon and Yemen voting against and Iraq abstaining.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the decision is the most that anyone could have realistically expected from the Arab League.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the decision is the most that anyone could have realistically expected from the Arab League.
It is a huge blow to Syria's pride, and could also be a real practical blow to its leaders, our correspondent adds.It is a huge blow to Syria's pride, and could also be a real practical blow to its leaders, our correspondent adds.
But opposition groups are already calling for more action, he says, including a no-fly zone.But opposition groups are already calling for more action, he says, including a no-fly zone.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim said the suspension would take effect on Wednesday, adding that talks would be held with Syrian opposition groups in three days' time.Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim said the suspension would take effect on Wednesday, adding that talks would be held with Syrian opposition groups in three days' time.
"We were criticised for taking a long time but this was out of our concern for Syria," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency."We were criticised for taking a long time but this was out of our concern for Syria," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
"We needed to have a majority to approve those decisions."We needed to have a majority to approve those decisions.
"We are calling all Syrian opposition parties to a meeting at the Arab League headquarters to agree a unified vision for the transitional period.""We are calling all Syrian opposition parties to a meeting at the Arab League headquarters to agree a unified vision for the transitional period."
'Not Libya''Not Libya'
Mr Jassim said that if the violence and killing did not stop, the Arab League would contact human rights organisations and the UN and "set a vision for the appropriate measures to stop that bloodshed".Mr Jassim said that if the violence and killing did not stop, the Arab League would contact human rights organisations and the UN and "set a vision for the appropriate measures to stop that bloodshed".
This vision would be submitted to another league meeting on 16 November, he added.This vision would be submitted to another league meeting on 16 November, he added.
The Arab League's condemnation of violence by Col Muammar Gaddafi's government in Libya and call for a no-fly zone paved the way for a UN Security Council resolution protecting civilians and a Nato-led mission there.The Arab League's condemnation of violence by Col Muammar Gaddafi's government in Libya and call for a no-fly zone paved the way for a UN Security Council resolution protecting civilians and a Nato-led mission there.
But Mr Jassim denied that Saturday's decision would lead to international intervention in Syria.But Mr Jassim denied that Saturday's decision would lead to international intervention in Syria.
"No-one is talking about a no-fly zone, people are trying to mix up the cases. None of us is talking about this kind of decision," he said."No-one is talking about a no-fly zone, people are trying to mix up the cases. None of us is talking about this kind of decision," he said.
Violence continued in Syria on Friday with 13 people killed, most of them in the city of Homs. Violence continued in Syria on Saturday with 12 people killed, the Local Co-ordination Committees said - four of them were in Deraa and three each in Homs and Idlib.
Thirteen people died on Friday, most of them in Homs.
There were also reports of violence and mass arrests in the capital, Damascus.There were also reports of violence and mass arrests in the capital, Damascus.
Mass street protests after Friday prayers, followed by brutal crackdowns by security forces have become a weekly feature of Syria's uprising.Mass street protests after Friday prayers, followed by brutal crackdowns by security forces have become a weekly feature of Syria's uprising.
President Assad's government insists it is battling armed gangs and militants and says hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed.President Assad's government insists it is battling armed gangs and militants and says hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed.
The government has restricted foreign journalists from entering the country, making it difficult to confirm events on the ground.The government has restricted foreign journalists from entering the country, making it difficult to confirm events on the ground.
Syria's anti-government protests, inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, first erupted in mid-March after the arrest of a group of teenagers who spray-painted a revolutionary slogan on a wall. The protests soon spread, and human rights activists and opposition groups say 1,700 people have died in the turmoil, while thousands more have been injured.
Although the arrest of the teenagers in the southern city of Deraa first prompted people to take to the streets, unrest has since spread to other areas, including Hama, Homs, Latakia, Jisr al-Shughour and Baniyas. Demonstrators are demanding greater freedom, an end to corruption, and, increasingly, the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
President Assad's government has responded to the protests with overwhelming military force, sending tanks and troops into at least nine towns and cities. In Deraa and Homs - where protests have persisted