Arab League calls for decisive action against Assad

As the United States faces reduced support from its allies for a strike against the Syrian regime, the Arab League called on Sunday for decisive action against the Middle Eastern country for its use of chemical gas against civilians.  Appealing for any help for the Syrian people to defend themselves against the regime, the Arab League stressed, "It is now time to stand up against the Syrian regime that has been massacring its people for two years. The international community should bear responsibility." The foreign ministers of the Arab League condemned the chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta on August 21. UN experts visited the affected area last week to gather samples and interview people. Inspectors left Syria last Saturday and are expected to present their report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. However there are calls to take military action against the Syrian regime before the team submits their report. The United States and France are endorsing military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while the UK's willingness to participate in an intervention was defeated after the House of Commons vetoed the governmental resolution regarding the issue. 

Earlier, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal and Syrian opposition leader Ahmed al-Jarba pleaded with League members to support a military strike on the Syrian regime. Calling on foreign ministers to take definitive action against the regime to end people's suffering, they added that Assad's regime had crossed "all red lines" by killing its people.

"We demand that every step should be taken to end this bloody massacre," the Saudi minister said. The head of the Syrian opposition appealed for military support from the League to "end the death machine." The Arab League suspended Damascus' membership to the union following the massacre committed by the regime in November 2011 and after March 2013. The opposition currently represents Syria.