Europeans Seek U.N. Backing for New Arab Plan on Syria

Germany on Monday led European demands for strong U.N. Security Council support for Arab League calls for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power.

Germany's U.N. ambassador Peter Wittig said the Arab League plan for Syria agreed at the weekend could be a "game changer" for the Security Council which has been deadlocked with Russia and China vetoing one resolution condemning the Syrian government's deadly crackdown.

Wittig said Germany would be following up a formal letter demanding that Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi brief the 15-member Security Council "as soon as possible".

The council has been blocked for months over Syria, where the U.N. says at least 5,400 people have died since protests against Assad erupted last March. Russia and China said a proposed European resolution in October was the first steps toward enforced regime change.

Arab League foreign ministers at the weekend sought Security Council endorsement for their latest plan which calls for Assad to hand over powers to a deputy while elections and a new constitution are organized.

"The decisions taken in Cairo are maybe a game changer, also for the Security Council," Wittig told reporters.

He said a briefing by the Arab League would be only a first step.

"We believe that we need now more than ever a strong council action, a clear message, to the Syrian regime and to the Syrian people," the envoy said.

"Now only real support and endorsement of the Arab League decisions will do. Everything else would be perceived as much too weak," Wittig said.