Arab League Syria plan may go to U.N.

Five Arab League ministers drafted a resolution asking the U.N. Security Council to consider a plan designed to end violence in Syria, a league official said. The Arab League is to consider the plan Wednesday, and if it's approved, it could be sent to the Security Council, the senior league official told CNN Saturday. Meanwhile, the U.S. news network reported, 41 people, including three children and a woman, were killed Saturday by government forces in the violent, nine-month crackdown on protesters. Eight of the victims were members of the Free Syrian Army, a rebel force of military defectors, CNN said. The Arab League's plan does not mention military intervention in Syria, said the league official, who asked to remain anonymous. The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has faced increasing international criticism. The Arab League expelled Syria last month and has pressed to send monitors into the country. Sanctions have been imposed by the United States, the European Union, Turkey and the league. But Russia and China have rejected sanctions against Syria, and both have veto power on the Security Council. Russia, in a draft resolution this week, said it "strongly condemns violence" in Syria. The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have died in the violence in Syria. On Friday, the Syrian National Council opened a three-day congress Friday in Tunisia, the dissident coalition's first formal meeting. About 200 members of the council attended, Tunisia Live reported. Representatives of some Arab governments and human rights organizations were expected to be there as well. The council, headed by Burhan Ghalioun, says it represents about 60 percent of the Syrian opposition. Tunisian Deputy Foreign Minister Radhouen Nouisser said the council was not formally invited by the Tunisian government. But he said Tunisia, where mass protests a year ago kicked off the Arab Spring, supports the goals of the council. "Supporting the democratic inspirations of the people of Syria, and elsewhere, is a part of our national strategy," he said. "Therefore we welcome this congress to meet in our country."