Middle East News

Syria to respond Monday to Arab League plan to end unrest

Oct 31, 2011, 7:26 GMT

Doha - Syria is to respond Monday to a plan presented by an Arab League committee on ending the unrest in the country, said Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim.

The plan was presented at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers held Sunday in Qatari capital Doha that was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.

'The meeting was serious and straightforward,' Jassim, who headed the meeting, told reporters.

'We reached a working paper tackling all issues. The Syrian delegation asked to give a reply tomorrow (Monday) after discussing the paper with the Syrian leadership,' said Jassim, who is also Qatar's foreign minister.

The committee, headed by Qatar, comprises the foreign ministers of Algeria, Egypt, Oman and Sudan.

Jassim said the plan was serious about 'ending all acts of violence and killings' in Syria, but declined to disclose the content of the plan.

'They (the Syrian government) knows there is a crisis and have to address it seriously and swiftly,' he added.

The Arab League is to hold a meeting on Syria in Cairo on Wednesday, according to the Qatari official.

More than 3,000 people, including at least 187 children, have been killed in a Syrian government clampdown since pro-democracy protests began in mid-March, according to the United Nations.

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