Syrian opposition mounts pressure

Syria’s opposition, hoping to topple President Bashar Al Assad, has charted a transitional period eyeing regime change, as Arab League monitors say they have seen government snipers and demand they be withdrawn. At the same time, the rebel Free Syrian Army said it is suspending operations against regime forces during the one-month renewable mission of monitors deployed in Syria to implement an Arab League peace plan. Jordan said 12 judges, army officers and peacekeeping experts were ready to join the mission as soon as Amman gets the go-ahead from the Arab League, Ad-Dustour newspaper reported quoting Information Minister Rakan Majali. At least 32 civilians were killed on Friday, including 25 who were shot dead by Syrian forces as they opened fire on massive protests that rocked the country while the monitors toured flashpoints, a watchdog said. The observer mission was not immediately reachable to confirm his comments. In Cairo, headquarters of the Arab League, the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) and the National Co-ordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria (NCB) inked a deal late on Friday as they eye a post-regime transition. An English language statement from the NCB said the deal “sets out the political and democratic rules for the transitional period,” should Assad be ousted. The accord also “determines the important parameters for Syria’s future which aspire to ensure that the homeland and every citizen’s rights are treated with dignity, and for the foundation of a civil democratic state.”