Arab League head eyes support for Syria plan at UN

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said Sunday he would seek support from the United Nations for a plan aimed at achieving a peaceful power transfer in violence-stricken Syria, dpa reported. "The Arab initiative envisages (the) peaceful departure of the Syrian regime," al-Arabi added before travelling to New York. The plan calls for a two-month transition to a unity government in Syria, with President Bashar al-Assad giving his vice president full powers to work with the proposed government. Syria has rejected the proposals, saying they would violate its sovereignty. Al-Arabi said his organization was in contact with China and Russia, Syria's two key allies, to win their support for the Arab plan. He and Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim, who heads an Arab League committee on Syria, are set to discuss the plan with diplomats at the UN Security Council. The Arab League Saturday suspended its observer mission in Syria due to rising violence. More than 5,400 people have been killed in Syria since a pro-democracy uprising against al-Assad's regime erupted last March, according to the UN. However, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday the world body could no longer keep track of the death toll in Syria due to an escalation of the violence.