Oman 'optimistic' Syria to sign protocol by Monday

The Arab League is "optimistic" that by Monday Syria will sign a proposal to send an observer mission to the restive country, the Omani minister responsible for foreign affairs said on Sunday. "We are optimistic that Syria will join the Arab League and sign the protocol within the next 24 hours," Yussef bin Alawi told reporters in Riyadh. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, who chairs an Arab League taskforce on Syria, also said that "we have received information stating that he (Syrian President Bashar al-Assad) will sign the protocol." "We'll see if it's true," he said. The 22-member Arab bloc has been trying to persuade Damascus to accept observers to monitor the situation as part of a plan to end the bloodshed. On November 27, the Arab bloc approved a raft of sanctions against Syria for failing to heed an ultimatum to admit observers. Earlier this month Syria finally said it would allow the mission, but laid down a number of conditions, including the lifting of sanctions. Alawi said the Arab League will meet on Wednesday to discuss Syria. Sheikh Hamad had said that the meeting will be held in Cairo. "If it doesn't sign we will take decisions," Alawi said without elaborating. Sheikh Hamad, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, said that "Assad's resignation or changing the regime involves the people of Syria. What is most important is putting an end to violence and killing, releasing prisoners, and allowing media into the country to uncover the truth." "What's important is that he (Assad) reconciles with his people," said Sheikh Hamad. The Qatari minister on Saturday accused Damascus of stalling on the Arab League proposal. He warned that the Arab bloc would take Syria to the UN Security Council if it persisted in refusing to admit observers to monitor the protection of civilians. Iraq, Syria's neighbour, is also taking steps to help mediate a solution. The United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed in the government crackdown on pro-democracy protests which erupted in mid-March.