The Arab League halted on Saturday Syria observers mission due to “critical deteriorating conditions and rising violence” in the country.

The Arab League halted on Saturday Syria observers mission due to “critical deteriorating conditions and rising violence” in the country.

“It has been decided to immediately stop the work of the Arab League's mission to Syria pending presentation of the issue to the league's council” AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi announced in a statement.

"The decision to suspend the observer mission was taken after a series of consultations with Arab foreign ministers because of the upsurge of violence whose victims are innocent civilians."

Al-Arabi added that the decision came "after the Syrian government chose the option of escalation, which increased the number of victims."

For its part, Syria said it was "surprised and regrets the decision taken by Arabi to suspend the observer mission after having decided (last week) to extend it for a month," state news agency SANA reported.

An unidentified official accused Arabi of acting at the request of Qatar, which heads the League's committee on Syria.
"This decision is aimed at increasing the pressure for foreign intervention," SANA quoted him as saying.

"This will have a negative impact and put pressure on [Security Council] deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence”, State TV said in the news flash.

The 165 League observers were deployed a month ago after Syria agreed to a League plan foreseeing a halt to the violence, prisoners freed, tanks withdrawn from built-up areas and free movement of observers and foreign media.