No breakthrough in Arab League Syria talks

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Arab League talks aimed at ending Syrian violence brought no breakthrough and clashes between government and opposition forces killed 17 people, reports said.

An anti-government activist said a general strike had paralyzed parts of the country, while tens of thousands of demonstrators participated in a televised Damascus rally in support of President Bashar Assad, the Los Angeles Times reported.

An Arab League official told reporters the league meeting brought "frank and friendly" discussion with Assad but no breakthrough in efforts to end the months-long rebellion and brutal government crackdown.

Gulf nations seeking to suspend Syrian membership in the Arab League failed to gain adequate support.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani called the meeting "honest and friendly" and said the group "felt that the Syrian government wants to work ... to reach a solution," Syrian state television reported.

Ahmed bin Heli, the Arab League's deputy secretary-general, said Assad "did not accept all the

initiatives submitted to him, but he did not reject our points and requests."

He said the delegation of Arab foreign ministers is to resume talks with Syrian officials Oct. 30.

"Our main concern is to stop the bloodshed of the Syrian people," he said.

In the latest Syrian violence, clashes between government troops and opposition forces killed at least 17 people, CNN reported.