Britain welcomes Arab League's call for Syria peacekeeping force

Feb 13, 2012, 8:37 GMT

London - Britain Monday backed urgent discussion of a call by Arab League foreign ministers on the United Nations Security Council to form a joint Arab-UN peacekeeping force to observe a ceasefire in Syria.

'The Arab League could not have sent a clearer message to Syria than the one it sent yesterday and we look forward to working closely with them in the coming days and weeks,' Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement.

He said Britain would take a 'very active part' in the new so-called Group of Friends of Syria which has been established to increase political and financial support to opposition leaders.

President Bashar al-Assad should be in 'no doubt' of the determination of Syria's neighbours and the international community to bring an end to the violence, said Hague.

He said 'significant steps' had been taken at Sunday's Arab League meeting to increase the 'diplomatic and economic isolation' on Syria.

'We will discuss urgently with the Arab League and our international partners the proposals for a joint AL/UN peacekeeping force,' said Hague.

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