Syria unrest: Arab League to vote on economic sanctions

Syria unrest: Arab League to vote on economic sanctions

Members of the Arab League are set to vote on an unprecedented array of economic sanctions against Syria.

The proposals include the halting of dealings with the Syrian central bank, the suspension of commercial flights and a travel ban on senior officials.

Arab ministers drafted the sanctions at a meeting in Cairo, in the latest move to punish Syria for its continuing brutal crackdown on protesters.

Syria's foreign minister has accused the League of meddling in its affairs.

In a letter to the 22-member organisation, Walid al-Muallem said it was seeking to "internationalise" the conflict.

The Arab League move is being portrayed in Damascus as part of a Western-inspired conspiracy to undermine the country because of its traditional resistance to Israel, the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says.

Syrian state television described the sanctions as "unprecedented measures aimed at the Syrian people".

'Humanitarian corridor'

More than 3,500 people have died since protests against the Syrian government began in March, the UN estimates.

The League threatened Syria with sanctions earlier this month after President Bashar al-Assad repeatedly failed to implement steps to end the violence, including allowing international observers to enter Syria.

The draft document - drawn up by the Arab League's Social and Economic Committee on Saturday and seen by correspondents - requires the support of two thirds of foreign ministers.

It also includes the freezing of all Syrian assets in Arab countries.

Our correspondent says the sanctions package had already been discussed by the foreign ministers, so approval is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

Damascus depends on its Arab neighbours for half of its exports and a quarter of its imports, so the sanctions - supplemented by Syria's northern neighbour Turkey - will step up the pressure and increase Syria's sense of isolation.

But the sanctions won't be instantly crippling, and there will be loopholes, our correspondent adds.

Iraq, to the east, has said it is impossible for it to impose a blockade, and Lebanon, to the west, is against the measures and is also unlikely to impose them strictly.

On Saturday, Mr Muallem hit out at the group after it asked the UN to contribute to the proposed observer mission, calling it an invitation "for foreign intervention instead of a call to avoid one".

Syria unrest: Arab League to vote on economic sanctions