UN asks Arab League for details before it can join mission in Syria

Feb 9, 2012, 18:48 GMT

New York - The United Nations was seeking more information from the Arab League before it can take part in a joint observer mission in Syria, a UN spokesman said Thursday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon revealed Wednesday that the league's Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi urged him to form a joint UN-Arab League mission and appoint a special envoy to head the group.

'At this point, more details are needed about what the Arab League had in mind,' Ban spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

He said the UN was following up on the proposal, which al-Arabi made Tuesday in a telephone conversation with Ban.

'We need more details before we can flesh out what may or may not happen,' Nesirky said.

The league suspended its monitoring mission in January amid fierce clashes between the government and the opposition.

Ban on Wednesday lashed out at the continued violence and mounting civilian deaths in Syria, blaming the vetoes cast Saturday by Russia and China for the escalation. The double vetoes killed a UN Security Council resolution that would have supported Arab League peace efforts in Syria.

'I deeply regret that the Security Council has been unable to speak with one clear voice to end the bloodshed,' he said. 'The failure to do so is disastrous for the people of Syria. It has encouraged the Syrian government to step up its war on its own people. Thousands have been killed in cold blood, shredding President (Bashar al-)Assad's claims to speak for the Syrian people.'

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