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| Syria unrest: Arab League observers set to arrive | Syria unrest: Arab League observers set to arrive |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Monitors from the Arab League are due to arrive in Syria under a initiative aimed at ending the violent crackdown on anti-government protests. | Monitors from the Arab League are due to arrive in Syria under a initiative aimed at ending the violent crackdown on anti-government protests. |
| The UN says some 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since protests began in March but right groups say the figure is much higher. | The UN says some 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since protests began in March but right groups say the figure is much higher. |
| Damascus blames the unrest on "armed gangs" seeking to destabilise Syria. | Damascus blames the unrest on "armed gangs" seeking to destabilise Syria. |
| Russia is coming under pressure to speed up work on its draft UN resolution condemning the violence. | Russia is coming under pressure to speed up work on its draft UN resolution condemning the violence. |
| Moscow surprised diplomats by submitting the draft last week but there has been little progress since. | Moscow surprised diplomats by submitting the draft last week but there has been little progress since. |
| On Thursday, the US issued fresh travel advice for Americans, urging "US citizens currently in Syria to depart immediately". | On Thursday, the US issued fresh travel advice for Americans, urging "US citizens currently in Syria to depart immediately". |
| "US citizens should not travel to Syria due to ongoing violence and civil unrest," the advisory said. | "US citizens should not travel to Syria due to ongoing violence and civil unrest," the advisory said. |
| 'Playing for time' | 'Playing for time' |
| An advance party of about 30 Arab League observers, accompanied by members of the media, will arrive in Syria on Thursday to prepare for the arrival of the full delegation, which will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree. | |
| Another group of observers is due in Syria on Sunday, and the mission is expected to be 150-strong when complete. | |
| They will oversee Syria's compliance with the Arab League initiative, which calls for attacks to stop, troops to withdraw from the streets and detained protesters to be freed. | They will oversee Syria's compliance with the Arab League initiative, which calls for attacks to stop, troops to withdraw from the streets and detained protesters to be freed. |
| Damascus's decision to admit them was announced on Monday, after weeks of delays. | Damascus's decision to admit them was announced on Monday, after weeks of delays. |
| Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said they would be allowed freedom of movement and be protected by the government. | Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said they would be allowed freedom of movement and be protected by the government. |
| With international and internal pressures building up more strongly day by day, has the regime read the writing on the wall and decided to relinquish power or open up to a transition as gracefully as is possible in the current situation? | With international and internal pressures building up more strongly day by day, has the regime read the writing on the wall and decided to relinquish power or open up to a transition as gracefully as is possible in the current situation? |
| That is hard to imagine. | That is hard to imagine. |
| Other Arab leaders embattled by uprisings have tended to live in a bubble, convincing themselves that their people really love them, and that they can survive if they just tough it out with the militants. | Other Arab leaders embattled by uprisings have tended to live in a bubble, convincing themselves that their people really love them, and that they can survive if they just tough it out with the militants. |
| The Syrian leadership seems to be no exception. In fact, doomed or not, Mr Assad does seem to be standing on rather more solid ground than some of his former Arab counterparts who lost the struggle. | The Syrian leadership seems to be no exception. In fact, doomed or not, Mr Assad does seem to be standing on rather more solid ground than some of his former Arab counterparts who lost the struggle. |
| But critics of President Bashar al-Assad are sceptical about his decision, saying it is a ploy and he is simply playing along with the diplomatic process in an attempt to stave off more stringent UN action. | But critics of President Bashar al-Assad are sceptical about his decision, saying it is a ploy and he is simply playing along with the diplomatic process in an attempt to stave off more stringent UN action. |
| Activists point to an upsurge in attacks on anti-government protesters this week as evidence that Mr Assad is attempting to stifle unrest quickly. | Activists point to an upsurge in attacks on anti-government protesters this week as evidence that Mr Assad is attempting to stifle unrest quickly. |
| Syria's main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), which is based outside the country, says at least 250 people have been killed this week in the north-western Idlib province. | Syria's main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), which is based outside the country, says at least 250 people have been killed this week in the north-western Idlib province. |
| Most of those killed in the Jabal al-Zawiya area, 40km (25 miles) south-west of the provincial capital Idlib, have reportedly been army defectors. Activists have also posted videos online said to show children injured in the fighting. | Most of those killed in the Jabal al-Zawiya area, 40km (25 miles) south-west of the provincial capital Idlib, have reportedly been army defectors. Activists have also posted videos online said to show children injured in the fighting. |
| Journalists are not allowed to report freely in Syria so details are hard to verify. | Journalists are not allowed to report freely in Syria so details are hard to verify. |
| But the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has accused government troops of carrying out an "organised massacre" in Idlib. | But the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has accused government troops of carrying out an "organised massacre" in Idlib. |
| The SNC has called on the UN Security Council and the Arab League to act to protect the Syrian people and declare a "protected zone" in the areas under attack by the army. | The SNC has called on the UN Security Council and the Arab League to act to protect the Syrian people and declare a "protected zone" in the areas under attack by the army. |
| Critics say the regime is unlikely to be able to hold on to power if it complies with the Arab League plan and takes its soldiers off the streets, saying that would embolden anti-government protesters. | Critics say the regime is unlikely to be able to hold on to power if it complies with the Arab League plan and takes its soldiers off the streets, saying that would embolden anti-government protesters. |
| The US said promises from the Assad regime "have no credibility when they continue to be followed by outrageous and deplorable actions". | The US said promises from the Assad regime "have no credibility when they continue to be followed by outrageous and deplorable actions". |
| "The United States continues to believe that the only way to bring about the change that the Syrian people deserve is for Bashar al-Assad to leave power," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. | "The United States continues to believe that the only way to bring about the change that the Syrian people deserve is for Bashar al-Assad to leave power," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, who is monitoring events from neighbouring Lebanon, says the Syrian authorities may well be "clearing up unfinished business" ahead of the arrival of the monitors, with reports suggesting the security services are acting against army deserters and civilians trapped in a valley. | The BBC's Jim Muir, who is monitoring events from neighbouring Lebanon, says the Syrian authorities may well be "clearing up unfinished business" ahead of the arrival of the monitors, with reports suggesting the security services are acting against army deserters and civilians trapped in a valley. |
| Russia under pressure | Russia under pressure |
| Our correspondent says opposition fighters may be trying to establish their presence to gain a foothold for further expansion. | Our correspondent says opposition fighters may be trying to establish their presence to gain a foothold for further expansion. |
| Meanwhile, Western nations are pressing Russia to act faster on finalising its draft resolution on Syria. | Meanwhile, Western nations are pressing Russia to act faster on finalising its draft resolution on Syria. |
| Russia - along with China - vetoed a European resolution in October which threatened sanctions against Damascus if the killing continued. But last week, it submitted its own draft, which condemned both sides without mentioning sanctions. | Russia - along with China - vetoed a European resolution in October which threatened sanctions against Damascus if the killing continued. But last week, it submitted its own draft, which condemned both sides without mentioning sanctions. |
| Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough but that they were prepared to work on the document, but there has been little progress since. | Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough but that they were prepared to work on the document, but there has been little progress since. |
| "The situation is dramatic and the council has no time to lose," said Germany's UN ambassador, Peter Wittig. | "The situation is dramatic and the council has no time to lose," said Germany's UN ambassador, Peter Wittig. |
| "We urge the Russian delegation to expedite the negotiations of their draft and to conduct serious and swift negotiations." | "We urge the Russian delegation to expedite the negotiations of their draft and to conduct serious and swift negotiations." |
| Are you in Syria? Have you been affected by the violence in your area? You can share your thoughts and experience by filling in the from below. | Are you in Syria? Have you been affected by the violence in your area? You can share your thoughts and experience by filling in the from 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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