Syria given 72 hours to end crackdown

RABAT, Morocco, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Syria has three days to cease its repression of civilians or it will face economic sanctions, the Arab League said Wednesday.

The delayed economic threat came after the Arab League decided to suspend Syria from the 22-member organization Wednesday.

Sheik Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, said the Syrian government must sign a memorandum calling on the ruling regime to halt violence against dissidents or face unspecified economic sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The league would monitor the regime's compliance with the terms of the memorandum.

"I know the extent to which the Syrians and the Arabs are disappointed and frustrated in the slow way the Arab League has been reacting and I understand that the deadline was to the 16th, which is today," Hamad said.

The league's suspension prompted demonstrations by Assad loyalists with attacks on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and France embassies. France has recalled its ambassador amid the violent demonstrations.

The opposition says Syrian security forces have killed 400 people this month — they say November could be the deadliest month since the revolt started in mid-March.