KSA demands UN Syria intervention

The Council of Ministers yesterday expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in Syria and called for an immediate UN Security Council intervention to stop the bloodbath, violence and crimes in the war-torn country. It also endorsed an agreement with the United Kingdom on the transfer of sentenced convicts. The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, backed a resolution taken by an emergency Arab League meeting in Doha "urging the Security Council to take all necessary measures immediately to protect civilians and stop the bloodbath, violence and crimes in Syria." The Cabinet meeting reviewed the Kingdom's participation in the meetings of the Council of Religious Leaders in Astana and Partners Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Istanbul and reiterated the importance of dialogue in resolving global conflicts. The Cabinet commended the keynote speech made by King Abdullah at a meeting of the UN Counterterrorism Center's advisory board in Jeddah, urging the international community to formulate a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism. Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said King Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks and contact with world leaders during the past week to promote bilateral relations and reinforce world peace and stability. Referring to the major decisions taken by the Cabinet, Khoja said it endorsed an agreement with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the transfer of sentenced convicts signed in Riyadh on Jan. 2. The accord was aimed at encouraging the social rehabilitation of convicts by giving them the opportunity to complete their sentences in their own countries. To consider approving such a transfer, the transferring state may request the receiving state to provide information and undertakings or assurance regarding the place where the convict will be located, visiting procedures at the facility where the sentenced person will serve the remainder of the sentence and the authorities in charge of monitoring the facility. The Cabinet appointed Ibrahim Al-Zaid secretary-general of the Council of Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Al-Hamoud secretary-general of the Council of Dawa and Guidance at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawa and Guidance, Ibrahim Al-Abdullateef administrative adviser at Madinah Islamic University, Fahd Al-Jarallah head of notaries public at the Justice Ministry, and Abdul Qader Ameer deputy mayor of Jeddah for services. By Arab news