Syria Warns Arab Nations: Keep Your Troops Out

Damascus 'shocked' at suggestion from Qatar
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 17, 2012 12:03 PM CST
Syria Warns Arab Nations: Keep Your Troops Out
This image from amateur video made available by Shaam News Network on Monday purports to show Syrian security forces in Hama, Syria.   (AP Photo/Shaam News Network via APTN)

Syria may have begrudgingly agreed to let Arab League observers into the country, but it's not about to do the same with Arab troops. Responding angrily to the emir of Qatar's suggestion that troops intervene, Syria's foreign ministry made clear it won't stand idly by if foreign soldiers move in, reports AP. "The Syrian people reject any foreign intervention in its affairs, under any title, and would confront any attempt to infringe upon Syria's sovereignty and the integrity of its territories," said a statement.

Syrian officials were reportedly "shocked" at the proposal and warned it could "kill the chances of Syria working closely with Arabs," according to al-Jazeera. As for the Arab League's observer mission, it's expected to wrap up this week by announcing that Syria has failed to put a League-brokered peace plan into place. The mission is widely seen as a failure, with at least 400 people killed since the first observers deployed in late December. (More Bashar al-Assad stories.)

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