DAMASCUS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) gave an ultimatum to Syria on Thursday, asking it to sign a draft protocol within 48 hours allowing an observer mission into the country, or it would face sanctions.
The ultimatum, issued at the end of a crisis meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, said if Damascus refused to allow Arab monitors to assess progress of an AL plan aimed at ending the eight-month bloodshed, officials would meet to consider sanctions against the country.
Sanctions would include halting Arab dealings with the country's central bank, freezing the government's bank accounts as well as canceling flights to the Middle Eastern nation.
Officials from the pan-Arab body would also decide to cease commercial trade with the Syrian government "with the exception of basic goods so as not to affect the ordinary Syrians."
Arab sanctions could sound the death knell for the country's economy which heavily depends on trade exchanges with its Arab neighbors.
Syria's economic situation has been faltering due to the country's unrest which began in mid-March, as well as sanctions from the United States and European countries on oil exports and some state businesses.
The AL, which has suspended Syria's membership, said it decided to immediately send an Arab observer mission to the country in accordance with terms of the draft protocol if Syria signed it.
The Cairo-based bloc also urged the Syrian government and the opposition to hold a national dialogue to stop violence and resolve the country's crisis.
Earlier reports said Syria sent an "OK" message to AL General Secretary Nabil el-Arabj, agreeing to allow observers to travel to the country to protect civilians from violence. However, Syrian authorities denied this and said the country would wait to see what the ministers would decide.
The bloodshed in the country continued on Wednesday with at least 13 people killed in clashes between security forces and extremist groups in the central province of Homs.
Confrontations between security forces and anti-government protesters have left more than 3,500 people dead, according to UN estimates.
The persistent violence in Syria has prompted the international community to move to take tougher measures against Damascus.
The UN General Assembly Third Committee Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning Syria for human rights violations, but it drew sharp criticism from Damascus, which called it a U.S.-inspired political move.
The non-binding resolution, sponsored by Britain, France and Germany, was approved by a vote of 122-13 with 41 abstentions. It calls on Syrian authorities to implement an AL peace plan on Nov. 2 calling for the withdrawal of government tanks from the streets.
On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called for possible "humanitarian corridors" in Syria to help transport medicines and other humanitarian supplies to local civilians.
France became the first major Western power to seek international intervention.
The AL committee adopted the draft protocol on Nov. 16 in Rabat, capital city of Morocco, as Syria asked to amend the committee's decision on sending 500 observers to monitor the implementation of the peace plan.
