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Arab League Initiative calls for end to bloodshed, polls in 2014

Arab World Materials 6 September 2011 16:47 (UTC +04:00)
The head of the Arab League is set to visit Damascus to propose an initiative that calls for ending bloodshed, introducing political pluralism and holding free elections in 2014, a regional daily reported Tuesday.
Arab League Initiative calls for end to bloodshed, polls in 2014

The head of the Arab League is set to visit Damascus to propose an initiative that calls for ending bloodshed, introducing political pluralism and holding free elections in 2014, a regional daily reported Tuesday.

Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi told reporters that he is only scheduled to meet with President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Wednesday, with no plans for meeting with any opposition figures, DPA reported.

Protests in Syria began in March calling for more freedoms, political reform and the ouster of al-Assad. The government launched a violent crackdown on demonstrators, leaving at least 2,200 people killed so far.

The Arab League initiative was adopted by Arab foreign ministers at an emergency meeting in Cairo last month.

The demands of the initiative include an immediate end to violence on civilians, compensation for victims' loss and damages, the release of political prisoners and activists arrested for participation in recent protests, and the withdrawal of the army from Syrian towns and cities, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported.

The initiative also calls for a transition to democracy in Syria based on pluralistic and transparent elections that will be held in 2014, which is when al-Assad's term in office is scheduled to end.

The government should also engage in genuine dialogue with all opposition forces, in which the Arab League will be the mediator depending on agreed mechanisms and timetable, it added.

Many however have criticized the limitations of Arab League decisions as merely symbolic, since its mandate does not grant it an enforcement mechanism to implement proposals.

Syria dismissed the Arab League's statement in August as unacceptable, and denied that al-Arabi is presenting any initiatives during his visit.

The visit takes place in the midst of ongoing killings and arrests of protesters. Over 30 people were killed this week across Syria.

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