Arabi Holds Syria Responsible for Protecting Monitors after 11 Hurt

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Tuesday denounced attacks on Arab observers deployed in Syria, in which some monitors were wounded, and said he was holding the government in Damascus responsible for their mission.

"The Arab League denounces the irresponsible action and acts of violence against the League's observers," Arabi said in a statement issued by his office.

"It considers the Syrian government totally responsible for the protection of the members of the observer mission."

According to Arabi "some members of the mission were victim of violent attacks carried out by pro-regime elements in Latakia and Deir al-Zour, and from elements considered to be members of the opposition in other areas."

"Some of the members of the observers' mission were wounded and their equipment was badly damaged," the statement added.

Kuwait said earlier that two of its army officers who are part of the mission in Syria were "slightly hurt" on Monday by "unidentified protesters," in the first reported attack of its kind.

The two soldiers were treated in a hospital following the incident and later discharged in good health, said Kuwait's defense ministry, cited by state news agency KUNA.

Observers from Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates were attacked while heading to the coastal city of Latakia, KUNA added, without providing further details.

In his statement, Arabi said the mission had faced a "tendentious campaign" since an Arab League meeting about Syria on Sunday and warned the mission could be halted if the attacks continue.

"The Arab League is keen on the pursuit of the mission in a secure atmosphere so as not to be obliged to freeze the operation," he said.

Arabi rejected "any pressure or provocation from any party, be it the government or the opposition" or any attempt to undermine the mission.

He also called on the Syrian government and opposition "to stop the campaign of provocation" carried out by elements close to both sides.

"The main goal of the presence of observers on Syrian territory is to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis," said Arabi.

Also on Tuesday, Russia praised Arab League observers and urged them to continue their mission in Syria, after critics complained their work served only to cover up regime abuses.

"Their deployment in this country already has a stabilizing effect on the situation, and helps obtain a truthful and objective picture of what is happening in Syria," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We are convinced that as a pan-Arab organization, the Arab League is designed to play a leading role in consolidating international and regional efforts to peacefully overcome the internal Syrian crisis and immediately stop any violence."

A team of Arab League monitors has been in Syria since December 26 to oversee a deal to protect civilians, but the death toll, which the U.N. says exceeds 5,000, has kept climbing despite their presence.

Critics say the mission has been completely outmaneuvered by the government and has failed to make any progress towards stemming the crackdown. They have called for the observers to pull out.

The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has said the observers were slow in implementing the Arab League peace plan.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is part of the SNC, has accused the mission of covering up "crimes of the Syrian regime."

Russia has repeatedly sided with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and earlier this month sent a large Russian naval flotilla to the Syrian port of Tartus in what Damascus said was a show of solidarity.