Syria accepts extending Arab observers mission

DAMASCUS - Syria's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Damascus accepted the Arab League's (AL) request of extending the Arab observers' mission in Syria for another month, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

Syria's approval was conveyed in a message sent Tuesday by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem to the AL chief Nabil al-Arabi, said SANA.

The AL started a monitoring mission in the country on December 26 of last year, and made an assessment on Sunday, during which Arab foreign ministers decided to extend the observers' mission in Syria, to provide them with technical and financial assistance, and to cooperate with the UN Secretary General in this regard.

Besides, the AL also urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to delegate power to his first vice president and a national unity government in a fresh initiative aimed at ending the political crisis in the country.

The initiative, which was announced after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, stipulated the formation of a national unity government that should be formed within two months with the participation of the opposition to eventually prepare for free presidential and parliamentary elections under the supervision of Arab countries and the international community.

The plan also urged the Syrian government to prepare a draft constitution to be approved through a popular referendum, demanding Assad delegate full powers to enable the national unity government to act in the transitional period.

The AL urged the Syrian government and all the opposition sides to start a political dialogue sponsored by the AL within two weeks.

Syria dismissed the initiative as "flagrant interference in Syria's affairs," but accepted to extend the observers' mission as the last ditch effort to avoid internationalizing the ten-month- old unrest.