Syria signs deal to let in Arab monitors

CAIRO, (Reuters) – Syria agreed today to let Arab  League observers into the country to monitor implementation of a  deal it agreed last month to pull troops from protest-hit towns,  free political prisoners and start talking to dissidents.
However, the executive head of the League said after the  signing of a protocol on foreign observers that there was no  immediate plan to lift sanctions that were imposed when Damascus  at first refused outside monitors. Nabil Elaraby said observers  would now determine whether Syria’s government was complying.
“The protocol is a mechanism to go to Syria and move freely  to ensure the implementation of the Arab initiative on Syria.  What counts is good faith in implementation,” Elaraby, the Arab  League secretary-general, said. An advance party would head to  Syria this week to prepare for the arrival of monitors.
President Bashar al-Assad’s administration broadly agreed  last month to the Arab League peace initiative aimed at defusing  a violent confrontation that has left more than 5,000 dead.
But a refusal to let in outside observers had prompted other  Arab states to impose sanctions. And Assad’s opponents have  complained that troops are still present in some cities,  fighting with Assad’s opponents, while other elements of the  peace accord have also not been implemented in full.
Speaking of lifting the Arab League sanctions, Elaraby told  a news conference after the signing in Cairo: “This has not  happened, as that would require another meeting.”
He also said a meeting of Arab foreign ministers planned this  week, and which had been due to discuss action against Damascus,  would be “indefinitely postponed”.
The protocol on monitors was signed by Syrian Deputy Foreign  Minister Faisal Mekdad, after Damascus had previous called for  amendments to the plan.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been at the forefront of efforts  to press Syria to sign. Elaraby said others also helped.
“Some countries played a helping hand in signing the  protocol including Russia,” Elaraby said.
He added that an advanced team led by a top Arab League  official would head to Syria in two or three days to prepare for  the arrival of the monitors.
“We now have about 100 names including representatives of  non-governmental organisations and governments,” he said, adding  that media representatives and members of security forces would  be included.
Armed resistance has emerged in the last two months in  Syria, alongside a peaceful protest movement that began in March  inspired by uprisings across the Arab world.
Loyalist forces, including a pro-Assad militia, have  reportedly suffered scores of casualties in the last few weeks,  especially in the northwestern province of Idlib near Turkey and  in the central region of Homs.