Business Standard

Gulf ministers to weigh measures against Syria

Image

AFP Riyadh
Foreign ministers of the Gulf monarchies will meet tomorrow in Saudi Arabia to discuss measures against Syria, as Washington drums up support for its plan to strike Damascus, a diplomat said.

Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council "support taking international measures to deter the Syrian regime," the diplomat told AFP today.

The ministers will meet in Saudi's western port city of Jeddah.

The GCC, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has openly voiced support for the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

On Saturday, GCC chief Abdullatif al-Zayani urged the international community to intervene immediately to "rescue" the Syrian people from their government's "oppression".
 

The call comes as President Barack Obama awaits a vote by the US Congress on his request for support of a strike on Assad's regime over its alleged use of chemical weapons.

Gulf nations back international measures to "deter the Syrian regime from committing its inhumane practices," Zayani said.

Saudi Arabia -- the bloc's heavyweight -- has been pushing for a US-led strike on Syrian forces loyal to Assad.

Today, the kingdom reiterated its call on the international community to "assume its humanitarian responsibility to rescue the Syrian people and end its suffering from criminal acts and genocide".

It also called, following a meeting of the council of ministers, for ending "the Syrian regime's insistence on killing its people with all sorts of weapons.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Sep 09 2013 | 7:30 PM IST

Explore News