TUNIS, December 19, 2011 (AFP)
TUNIS, December 19, 2011 (AFP)
The leader of the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group, Monday dismissed as a ploy Damascus’s acceptance of an Arab League plan to try to end months of bloodshed in the country.
“The Syrian regime is maneuvering to try to prevent the Syrian file being submitted to the UN Security Council,” said Burhan Ghaliun. “This is just a ploy. They have no intention of implementing any initiative.”
After weeks of prevarication, Syria on Monday pledged full cooperation with the Arab League and agreed to allow an observer mission to monitor a deal to end a bloody nine-month crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said an advance team of observers would head to Damascus within 72 hours, and the mission will last for a renewable initial period of a month.
The Council, widely regarded as the main opposition coalition challenging
the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, has been meeting in Tunisia to discuss ways of bringing down the regime.
“This regime has a great deal of experience in such manoeuvring. If it does not commit to carry out the plan, it should be punished,” said Radwan Ziada, another leader of the SNC.
