Damascus has agreed "in principle" to allow an Arab League observer mission into the country

Russian warships are due to arrive at Syrian territorial waters, a Syrian news agency said on Thursday, indicating that the move represented a clear message to the West that Moscow would resist any foreign intervention in the country's civil unrest.

Also on Friday, a Syrian official said Damascus has agreed "in principle" to allow an Arab League observer mission into the country.

But the official said Friday that Syria was still studying the details. The official asked not to be named because the issue is so sensitive.

The Arab League suspended Syria earlier this week. The draft demanded implementation by Damascus of a plan of action of the Arab League.

The move comes after Russia and China used their veto in October to block a Security Council resolution that would have condemned the Syrian government of President Bashar for the alleged “violence”.