This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-16561493
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: Qatar calls for Arabs to send in troops | Syria crisis: Qatar calls for Arabs to send in troops |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The ruler of the Gulf state of Qatar has said Arab countries should send troops into Syria to stop government forces killing civilians there. | The ruler of the Gulf state of Qatar has said Arab countries should send troops into Syria to stop government forces killing civilians there. |
| Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani told US news channel CBS "some troops should go to stop the killing". | Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani told US news channel CBS "some troops should go to stop the killing". |
| It is the first time an Arab leader has publicly called for military intervention in Syria. | It is the first time an Arab leader has publicly called for military intervention in Syria. |
| More than 5,000 civilians have been killed since anti-government protests erupted in Syria in March, the UN says. | More than 5,000 civilians have been killed since anti-government protests erupted in Syria in March, the UN says. |
| Qatar was the first Arab country to join the Nato-led operation in Libya, which led to the downfall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. | Qatar was the first Arab country to join the Nato-led operation in Libya, which led to the downfall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. |
| It has also led regional criticism of the crackdowns on protesters by President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and in Yemen by President Ali Abdullah Saleh. | It has also led regional criticism of the crackdowns on protesters by President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and in Yemen by President Ali Abdullah Saleh. |
| Asked if he was in favour of Arab nations intervening in Syria, Sheikh Hamad said: "For such a situation to stop the killing... some troops should go to stop the killing." | |
| The Arab League has despatched 165 observers to Syria to monitor compliance with a peace plan, but members have expressed doubts as to the mission's efficacy. | |
| More than 400 civilians have been killed in Syria since the observers began their mission in December, according to the UN. | |
| In Syria, troops backed by tanks are continuing an assault, begun on Friday, on the rebellious mountain town of Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, witnesses say. | |
| Reuters news agency quoted an exiled opposition leader as saying 40 people in the town were injured in the fighting on Saturday. | |
| Casualty reports are hard to verify because most foreign media are barred from reporting freely in Syria. |