Arab League Calls Emergency Meeting on Syria

The Arab League is considering yanking its observers out of Syria, as the regime there continues to kill protesters despite its presence, the AP reports. The League today announced an emergency meeting, to be held Saturday in Cairo, to discuss the matter. That meeting won't result in a final decision, however; it'll instead make a recommendation, which will be considered at a higher-level meeting at an as-yet-undetermined date.

Activists have criticized the observer mission, which has failed to stop the bloodshed in Syria, while lending political cover to Bashar al-Assad's regime. But the Arab League points out that it has drawn some concessions, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons from cities. The Arab Parliament yesterday called for the monitors' withdrawal. (More Arab League stories.)