Arab League Claims Assad’s Days Are Numbered

Nabil al-Arabi, the head of the Arab League, has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s days in office are numbered. He is urging the opposition to meet in the Gulf state of Qatar to push aside differences.

Al Jazeera reports that al-Arabi told reporters in Egypt’s capital of Cairo on Wednesday:

“It is important to unify the opposition’s visions, especially because everyone knows that the regime in Syria will not remain for long and one day there will be a new situation in Syria.”

Al-Arabi’s comments came as the Syrian National Council’s general assembly in Doha, Qatar, moved to choose two leadership bodies and a president for their movement.

Attempts at a new leadership in the country have come after intense international pressure from critics of the uprising. They believe that the exile-dominated group needs to be overhauled, because it is not a good representation of the Syrians risking their lives on the frontlines of the country’s conflict.

The Arab League secretary general added that preparations must begin for a transitional government to be ready when “there are changes on the ground,” according to the Associated Free Press.

Omar al-Selah of Al Jazeera reported from the conference in Doha. He stated:

“The electing process is ongoing. By Thursday morning there will be a new leadership, but the problems will remain huge as the SNC are seen to be weak.”

Turkey and Britain have both turned to other options for ending the conflict, while the US has called for an overhaul of the SNC. Turkey is talking with NATO members about protecting a safe zone inside Syria using Patriot missiles, while Britain will begin talks with military figures commanding Syria’s armed opposition groups.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called for a new international approach to the conflict. He toured a refugee camp for Syrians in northern Jordan on Wednesday He spoke afterwards, saying:

“I am hearing appalling stories about what has happened inside Syria so one of the first things I want to talk to [US President] Barack [Obama] about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis.”

Foreign Secretary William Hague added that the country will not supply weapons to Syrian rebels and stressed the importance of respecting human rights.

A Turkish foreign ministry spokesman announced that Turkey is in talks with NATO to possibly deploy Patriot missiles (usually used as anti-ballistic missiles), but no request has been made yet.

There is no information about when the Arab League expects Bashar al-Assad to be ousted from power.