Syria quiet over AL deadline

An Arab League deadline for Damascus to accept observers or face sanctions passed on Friday without a response from Syria, as activists reported more deaths in anti-regime protests. “Until now there has been no response from the Syrian government,” an Arab League source in Cairo told reporters after the 1100 GMT (UAE 3.00pm) deadline passed. Another official said the League would still consider an answer from Damascus presented by the end of the day. Russia dismissed the Arab League deadline saying “at this stage, what we need is not resolutions, sanctions or pressure, but inter-Syrian dialogue,” foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in Moscow. With the deadline gone, Turkey said Syria’s failure to open its doors to an observer mission heightened concern that Damascus was trying to conceal a worsening humanitarian situation. Arab foreign ministers could meet on Sunday for further talks on Syria, and Turkey would attend the gathering, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, warning of new measures against Damascus.