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| Syria unrest: Arab league issues new Sunday deadline | Syria unrest: Arab league issues new Sunday deadline |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Syria is facing a new Arab League deadline to accept proposals to allow observers into the strife-torn country. | Syria is facing a new Arab League deadline to accept proposals to allow observers into the strife-torn country. |
| Arab foreign ministers said Damascus had until Sunday to agree to the league's plan. Further sanctions have been threatened. | |
| A government spokesman in Damascus told reporters Syria was negotiating with the Arab League over the observers. | |
| The league also confirmed sanctions already approved after Syria ignored a previous deadline last weekend. | The league also confirmed sanctions already approved after Syria ignored a previous deadline last weekend. |
| Unrest in the country has continued, with 23 reported killed on Saturday. | Unrest in the country has continued, with 23 reported killed on Saturday. |
| After a meeting of the Arab League ministerial committee on Saturday, Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Jabr al-Thani said: "We asked the Syrian minister of foreign affairs if the Syrian government will agree to sign tomorrow [Sunday] and we are still waiting for a reply. | After a meeting of the Arab League ministerial committee on Saturday, Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Jabr al-Thani said: "We asked the Syrian minister of foreign affairs if the Syrian government will agree to sign tomorrow [Sunday] and we are still waiting for a reply. |
| "Aside from the deadline, we are willing to convince them that this is the right way - to sign the protocol and agree on the Arab initiative as it is." | "Aside from the deadline, we are willing to convince them that this is the right way - to sign the protocol and agree on the Arab initiative as it is." |
| Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi told reporters in Damascus on Sunday: "Messages are being exchanged between Syria and the Arab League to reach a certain vision that would facilitate the mission of observers in Syria, while preserving Syrian interests and sovereignty," AP news agency reported. | |
| At their Cairo meeting, Arab ministers also confirmed economic sanctions against Damascus approved in the past week. | |
| These include cutting off transactions with Syria's central bank, freezing assets for 19 officials and aides of President Bashar al-Assad, and banning them from travelling to other Arab countries. | These include cutting off transactions with Syria's central bank, freezing assets for 19 officials and aides of President Bashar al-Assad, and banning them from travelling to other Arab countries. |
| Mr Thani added: "The committee might add more measures in the future depending on the situation in Syria." | Mr Thani added: "The committee might add more measures in the future depending on the situation in Syria." |
| The Damascus government says it is confronting armed groups. It has said the Arab League proposal places "impossible conditions" on Damascus and gives monitors too much authority, infringing Syria's sovereignty. | The Damascus government says it is confronting armed groups. It has said the Arab League proposal places "impossible conditions" on Damascus and gives monitors too much authority, infringing Syria's sovereignty. |
| Deadliest month | Deadliest month |
| On Saturday, activists said 23 people had been killed as violence continued. | On Saturday, activists said 23 people had been killed as violence continued. |
| Until recently, most of the bloodshed was caused by security forces firing on mainly peaceful protesters - but there have been growing reports of army defectors and armed civilians fighting government forces. | Until recently, most of the bloodshed was caused by security forces firing on mainly peaceful protesters - but there have been growing reports of army defectors and armed civilians fighting government forces. |
| In one of the bloodiest incidents on Saturday, seven members of the security forces, five army rebels and three civilians were killed in a battle in Idlib, near the Turkish border, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | In one of the bloodiest incidents on Saturday, seven members of the security forces, five army rebels and three civilians were killed in a battle in Idlib, near the Turkish border, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| It is impossible to verify reports of deaths as the Syrian government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists. | It is impossible to verify reports of deaths as the Syrian government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists. |
| The UN estimates 4,000 people have been killed during a crackdown on anti-government protests. | The UN estimates 4,000 people have been killed during a crackdown on anti-government protests. |
| Earlier this week, UN Human Rights Council strongly condemned the "gross and systematic" violations by Syrian forces. | Earlier this week, UN Human Rights Council strongly condemned the "gross and systematic" violations by Syrian forces. |
| The resolution demands the suspension of security forces suspected of violations and the release of prisoners of conscience. | The resolution demands the suspension of security forces suspected of violations and the release of prisoners of conscience. |
| The council also said it was appointing a special investigator to report to the UN secretary general on the crackdown. | The council also said it was appointing a special investigator to report to the UN secretary general on the crackdown. |
| November has been the deadliest month for the uprising which began in March, with at least 950 people killed in gun battles, raids and other violence, according to activist groups. | November has been the deadliest month for the uprising which began in March, with at least 950 people killed in gun battles, raids and other violence, according to activist groups. |
| Are you in Syria? What is your experience of the unrest? You can send us your story using the form below. | Are you in Syria? What is your experience of the unrest? You can send us your story using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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