EU calls on Syria to implement Arab League plan

EU calls on Syria to implement Arab League plan

The EU has said Syria must quickly implement the commitments it made to the Arab League to end violence and allow opposition groups to operate.

Syria agreed on Wednesday to an Arab League plan to withdraw its army from cities, release political prisoners and hold talks with the opposition, but activists said security forces killed 10 people in Homs on Thursday and there was no sign yet of troops leaving urban areas.

EU foreign policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, welcomed the Arab League plan, but added in a statement that: "It is now vital that the commitments made by the Syrian authorities to the Arab League are followed through, fully and rapidly, under Arab scrutiny.”

But reports say this new initiative can only succeed if the Syrian authorities provide the space and security for opposition groups to work with all sectors of the Syrian population for a peaceful political transition.

Intensifying its efforts, the EU has called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down and warned his government it would impose more sanctions if it continues its violent crackdown on dissenting protesters.

The EU sanctions so far

The EU tightened sanctions against Syria last month, adding the Commercial Bank of Syria to a list of entities sanctioned in protest against the repression.

The EU imposed an embargo on crude oil imports from Syria in September and banned EU firms from new investment in its oil industry.

The 27-state bloc also imposed sanctions on the main mobile phone firm, Syriatel, and the largest private company, Cham Holding.

The UN says 3,000 people have died in the unrest in Syria, including at least 187 children.

The UN human rights chief has demanded the world act to stop the carnage and warned of full-blown civil war in the country.

NAN/Adekusibe/Williams