By Associated Press, Washington Post
BEIRUT — The Arab League overwhelmingly approved sanctions Sunday against Syria to pressure Damascus to end its deadly eight-month crackdown on dissent, an unprecedented move by the League against an Arab state.
Before the vote, Damascus slammed the vote as a betrayal of Arab solidarity. Besides punishing an already ailing economy, the sanctions are a huge blow for a Syrian regime that considers itself a powerhouse of Arab nationalism.
At a news conference in Cairo, Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim said 19 of the League’s 22 member nations approved the sanctions, which include cutting off transactions with the Syrian central bank and halting Arab government funding for projects in Syria. Iraq and Lebanon abstained.
“We aim to avoid any suffering for the Syrian people,” bin Jassim said.
The sanctions are the latest in a growing wave of international pressure pushing Syria to end its violent suppression of protests against President Bashar Assad, which the U.N. says has killed more than 3,500 people since March.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said the bloc will reconsider the sanctions if Syria carries out an Arab-brokered peace plan that includes sending observers to the country and pulling tanks from the streets.
NOTE by the editor: Mmmmm … The ‘normal people’ are usually those who suffer from the sanctions, as the ones in power have sufficient ‘reserves’ to overcome all these efforts. May Allah have mercy on the people of Syria and end their suffering soonest possible. May Allah guide those in power to do what is necessary to bring about the required change. Suggested reading and listening: the last Friday Sermon of the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. see http://www.alislam.org