BEIRUT (Reuters) – Jordan’s King Abdullah told Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad yesterday he should step down and the European Union added pressure with more sanctions after the Arab League’s surprise suspension of Damascus for its violent crackdown on protests.
Syria looks ever more isolated, but still has the support of Russia, which said the Arab League had made the wrong move and accused the West of inciting Assad’s opponents.
Despite the diplomatic pressure, there was no let-up in violence and some 40 people were killed in fighting between troops and insurgents and army defectors near the Jordanian border, Syrian activists said.
The anti-Assad unrest, inspired by Arab revolts elsewhere, has devastated Syria’s economy, scaring off tourists and investors, while Western sanctions have crippled oil exports.
Jordan’s King Abdullah said Assad should quit. “I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down,” he told the BBC.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said the League’s decision, due to take effect on Wednesday, was “an extremely dangerous step” at a time when Damascus was implementing an Arab deal to end violence and start talks with the opposition.
Syria called for an emergency Arab League summit in an apparent effort to forestall its suspension.
Nabil Elaraby, the organisation’s secretary general, said he had delivered the request to rulers of Arab League states and 15 members would have to approve in order to hold a summit, according to Egypt’s state news agency MENA.
