Syria's Assad Meets With Arab Officials Trying to Halt Violence
October 26, 2011
VOA News
At least 20 people were killed Wednesday in violence in Syria, as President Bashar al-Assad met with an Arab League delegation seeking to end months of unrest.
Syrian state media quoted the head of the delegation, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad al-Thani, as saying the talks were "cordial and frank." He said Syria's government wants to work with the delegation to reach a solution.
The prime minister said Arab officials will meet again with Assad October 30.
The delegation is trying to start a dialogue between Syria's government and opposition leaders.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 11 civilians died Wednesday in military operations across the country. Nine soldiers were killed in the central Hama region, a hotbed of opposition to President Assad.
In Damascus, tens of thousands of people rallied in support of Assad, waving flags and chanting they want him to remain Syria's president.
Opposition activists called for a nationwide strike that was observed in parts of Syria.
Assad has been facing growing international condemnation for his crackdown on dissent. The United Nations says the death toll from seven months of anti-government protests has topped 3,000.
The 22-nation Arab League recently held an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss Syria's unrest. Foreign ministers agreed to try to start talks between Assad and the newly formed opposition Syrian National Council.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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