AL to send 500-member delegation to protect Syrian civilians

The chairman of the Arab League (AL) Nabil al-Arabi said Monday that the pan-Arab body is preparing to send a 500-member delegation to Syria to protect civilians there. The delegation will include representatives of Arab human rights organizations, media and military observers, said Arabi, who chaired a meeting Monday of different Arab groups on a mechanism to protect Syrian civilians. However, he said a memorandum must be signed with Syrian government before the delegation is sent. "Nobody from any Arab organization aimed at protecting civilians will be sent to Syria unless a clear memorandum is signed with Syrian government to specify each party's duties and rights." The delegation's visit will be discussed at the next Arab foreign ministers' meeting to be held in Morocco on Wednesday. Arabi also talked with a delegation of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Monday, Egypt's official MENA news agency said. The delegation rejected any talks with Syrian government and described the dialogues as useless, the report said. Basma Qadmani, spokesperson of the group, said the Arab foreign ministers' decision to suspend Syrian activities in the pan-Arab organization "raised the morale of peoples and protestors." She said the SNC will cooperate with the AL to set a timetable for an opposition conference to be held in Egypt's capital of Cairo soon, adding that the opposition groups inside Syria will be invited if they agree on a peaceful map for change in Syria and toppling the government. Arabi's meeting with the Syrian opposition group was held upon an Arab decision on Saturday to invite all the Syrian opposition parties for a meeting at the AL headquarters to reach one vision for the transition period in Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Monday that the AL decision to suspend Syria's membership is an illegal and very dangerous step concerning the present and future common Arab action. Moallem said his country was still committed to the provisions of the AL, adding that the suspension of Syria's membership was a "premeditated" plan. However, the minister made it clear that Syria still welcomes a planned visit to the country by an Arab delegation and has proposed convening an emergency Arab summit. On Nov. 2, Syria accepted a peace plan of the AL in order to end the months-long violence. But the AL gave Syria more pressure on Saturday by suspending its membership from Nov. 16 and considering sanctions due to continued violence in the country.