Syrians Look to Arab League as 26 Killed in Crackdown

So much for promises: Although Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s administration made a very public peace deal just nine days ago, 26 people were reported killed Friday as protesters came out in force in hopes that the Arab League would punish Assad’s government by suspending Syria’s membership, according to The New York Times.

The New York Times:

The Syrian government announced on Nov. 2 that it had agreed to an Arab League-sponsored plan to end the political violence that has left an estimated 3,500 dead and tens of thousands behind bars, deepened sectarian divisions, and drawn international condemnation. President Assad’s government promised to withdraw all security forces and military vehicles from the streets and to stop firing on protesters.

But instead, the period since then has become one of the deadliest of the uprising, with activists counting at least 104 deaths.

“Has the Arab League initiative stopped our blood from flowing?” read one protest banner in a district near Homs on Friday.

The Syrian government has insisted that it is adhering to the Arab League agreement, pointing to the release of about 550 prisoners and its offer of amnesty to those who put down their arms. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem reiterated the point Thursday.

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AP / Sham News Network, via APTN

In this image from amateur video made available Friday by the Sham News Network, government troops drag a body in Damascus on Thursday.