Arab League foreign ministers meeting in an urgent session in Cairo on Sunday urged "national dialogue" between Syria's government and the opposition in the Egyptian capital within 15 days. The pan-Arab body decided to make contact with the Damascus government and a raft of opposition groups with the aim of launching "national dialogue within the seat of the Arab League and under its guidance within 15 days," a statement issued by Qatar foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani said.
Meanwhile,Gulf states requested the meeting to discuss "the situation in Syria, which has deteriorated sharply, particularly in its humanitarian dimensions, and steps that could help end the bloodshed and halt the machine of violence."
Before the opening of the talks at the Cairo-based League, several ministers met informally at a hotel with the organisation's secretary general, Nabil al-Arabi. One diplomat who took part said the participants were divided on the means to halt the bloodshed since anti-regime protests broke out in mid-March.
Syria's possible suspension and the recognition of an opposition Syrian National Council were raised "but the majority believed it necessary to give a chance" for Arabi to encourage the implementation of rapid reforms, he said.
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