Syria’s Funds Could Be Frozen by Arab League

Walid al-Muallem

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has dismissed the Arab’s League economic sanctions against its country. During a televised news conference Muallem informed that Syria had already withdrawn 95% of funds targeted by the leagues decision to freeze Syrian government bank assets.

Demonstrations occurred in the capital Damascus and Aleppo, the eastern cities of Deir al-Zor and Hassake also protested, after the announcement of the Arab League. The sanctions against Syria made on November 27, 2011; were an attempt to isolate President Bashar al-Assad’s government and its violent response to the protests that have left a death toll of 3,500 victims.

Meanwhile the Syrian government blames the violence to ‘armed gangs’. Nabil el-Araby, the league’s secretary-general added that the sanctions would be reconsidered if Syria fulfilled some demands, which include stop the killings, release the detainees and withdraw the military presence from Syrian districts. (AV)