Arab League mulls Syria suspension

The Arab League has publicly criticized the violence in Syria, saying Arab states are "angry and actively monitoring" the crisis.

The comments, by outgoing League Secretary General Amr Moussa, were published in Britain's Guardian Tuesday, and reportedly drew a bitter response from Damascus. Syria's representative at the league described them as "unbalanced and politically motivated."

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"Though their views differ, Arab states are all worried, angry and actively monitoring the current crisis in Syria. What we are hearing and monitoring, about many victims falling, indicates great tumult in Syria ... The situation in Syria should not be left in this state. Continuation of the status quo could lead to what may not be desired ... for Syria," Moussa said.

Mideast analysts believe this may spell possible sanctions by the Arab League against Syria, including suspension, either temporary or permanent, from its ranks. Suspension is the most drastic punitive measure the pan-Arab organization can impose on its members.

Though the Arab League serves primarily a political role as a core-organization in the Arab world, its clout is indisputable and its resolutions carry potent ramifications for its members.

Syria's League envoy, Youssef Ahmad, claimed Moussa was recommending the same sort of military intervention that the Arab League endorsed in Libya three months ago, Egypt's al-Ahram weekly reported.

"Days before leaving his post, Moussa calls for a kind of foreign intervention in the Syrian affairs, when the Libyan blood, shed by NATO air strikes as a result for a (UN) security council resolution, based, regrettably on an Arab demand in which Moussa's efforts immensely contributed, isn't dry yet," he said.

Still, according to al-Ahram, some Arab League members have already proposed partially suspending Syria’s participation in the organization’s meetings. 

Other members “fiercely opposed" the proposal, arguing that the move “could complicate reaching a peaceful solution in Syria.

Syrian refugees continue to arrive at crossing points into Turkey and some are reported to have told authorities that the army arrested at least 15 people along the way. More than 7,000 refugees are now in southern Turkey and at least 5,000 have fled into Lebanon.

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