Arab League Praised For Moves Against Syrian Regime

An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube allegedly shows antiregime protesters holding a defaced poster of President Bashar al-Assad in the Qadam neighborhood of Damascus in early November.

The Arab League has been earning international praise for its decision to suspend the Syrian regime from the organization and impose sanctions on Damascus for failing to halt its armed crackdown against antiregime protesters.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement, has described the Arab League decision as "strong and courageous."

U.S. President Barack Obama, the European Union, Britain, and France have also welcomed the move.

The Arab League said it would impose economic and political sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, and also called on Arab League member countries to withdraw their ambassadors from Syria because of the regime's failure to honor a peace plan brokered by Arab states.

After the move, reports said apparent supporters of the Syrian regime on November 12 attacked the Saudi Embassy in Damascus, breaking into the building and damaging property.

The United Nations estimates that around 3,500 people have been killed since the regime's crackdown against protesters began in March.

compiled from agency reports