League to discuss recognition issue

Beirut:  A senior Arab League official said yesterday the Cairo-based organisation will discuss at a meeting next week whether to recognise the opposition Syrian National Council as the legitimate representative of Syria and whether to allow it to open offices in Arab capitals.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made on the issue. Foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab league are scheduled to meet in Cairo on Sunday.

Also yesterday, Germany expelled four Syrian diplomats following the arrest earlier this week of two men accused of spying on Syrian opposition groups in the country.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he ordered the expulsions of the four Syrian Embassy employees and the ambassador had been informed. He did not give details on the diplomats.

German federal prosecutors said on Tuesday they had arrested a Syrian and a German-Lebanese dual national on suspicion that they spied on Syrian opposition supporters in Germany over several years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday the head of the Arab League plans to send observers back into Syria and has raised the possibility of a joint mission with the UN.

The UN chief provided no specifics, but the idea appears aimed at giving the regional group a boost after the league's earlier mission was pulled out of Syria on security concerns.