DOHA // The Arab League's secretary general has offered Bashar Al Assad, the Syria president, a "safe exit" for him and his family if he steps down.
Nabil ElAraby gave no further details on his proposal at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in Doha this morning.
The League also promised US$100 million (Dh367m) for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.
Moncef Marzouki, the Tunisian president, also offered Mr Assad asylum in February if it would end the conflict.
Mr Assad has shown little inclination to step down. Yesterday, his forces attacked remaining rebel pockets of resistance in the capital Damascus.
In his first public statements since a rebel bombing killed his defence minister and brother-in-law, Mr Assad told his new army chief of staff to "continue the armed forces' pursuit of terrorists".
Meanwhile, the European Union foreign chief said the escalating bloodshed in Syria was sparking concerns that the conflict may spill over into neighbouring countries.
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to endorse a plan today that would enforce the existing arms embargo by asking the member nations to board ships and aircraft carrying suspicious cargo to the war-torn nation.
The inspections will only take place on the territory or in the territorial waters of EU states.
The EU banned weapons exports to Syria in May, 2011. But until now, the 28-member bloc had the right to decide whether or not to inspect cargos believed to be in breach of the embargo.
Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign police chief, said the embargo is an attempt to prevent weapons from reaching Syria.
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali
Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially