Syria State Media Lashes Out at Arab League

An official Syrian daily lashed out at the Arab League Wednesday, accusing it of serving the interests of the United States and Israel after the organization urged Damascus to open up to dialogue.

"It is no longer surprising to see the Arab League, which is supposed to be concerned with joint Arab action, turn into an instrument of injustice aimed at destabilizing Syria," said the daily Ath-Thawra.

The daily said the 22-member Arab League was "hostage to powers following the agenda of aggressors like the United States, Israel and their European allies."

At an urgent session in Cairo on October 16, the Arab League called for "national dialogue" between Syria's government and the opposition in the Egyptian capital by the end of the month.

Syria's representative to the Arab League Youssef Ahmad slammed what he said was a "conspiracy" against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Cairo meeting on Sunday.

Protests against the Assad-controlled Baath Party, which has ruled Syria unchallenged for close to 50 years, erupted in March and have shown no signs of dying down despite a rising death toll.

The United Nations on Friday said more than 3,000 people, including 187 children, have been killed in a fierce crackdown on the dissent.