Syria Opposition Says Arab Report a 'Step Backwards'
The opposition Syrian National Council denounced Monday an Arab League report on its observer mission to the country as a "step backwards" in the bid to end unrest and called on the U.N. to take over.
"The council considers the report on the work of the observers a step backwards in the efforts by the League, and does not reflect the reality seen by the observers on the ground," the SNC said in a statement received by Agence France Presse.
The SNC expressed disappointment at the "slowness and reluctance of the Arab League in implementing the Arab plan, which clearly states the need for the military to return to their barracks, release all detainees, authorize peaceful demonstrations and give access to observers and journalists."
The opposition group urged the League to "immediately begin talks with the U.N. Secretary General to propose the Arab plan at the level of the U.N. Security Council for adoption by member states ... and prevent procrastination."
It called for "the protection of civilians by all legitimate means in the context of international humanitarian law, including the establishment of safety and no-fly zones."
A team of Arab League monitors has been in Syria since December 26, trying to assess whether President Bashar al-Assad's regime is complying with a peace accord aimed at ending its deadly crackdown on dissent.
Critics say it has been completely outmaneuvered by the government and has failed to make any progress towards stemming the crackdown. They have called for the mission to pull out.
Source: Agence France Presse
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