Arab FM session to convene Sunday instead of Tuesday

The Arab league on Saturday announced that the 140th regular session of the Arab foreign ministers will be held tomorrow, Sunday at the Arab league headquarters instead of Tuesday as was scheduled. This came in remarks the Arab League Deputy Chief Ambassador Ahmed Ben Helli made to reporters here today. Ben Helli told reporters that the decision was taken "in light of rapid developments in the Syria situation and based on the request of several Arab states." Last Tuesday, the Arab League accused the Syrian regime of carrying out chemical weapons attacks. Permanent representatives condemned the "horrible crime carried out with internationally prohibited chemical weapons" and put the "entire responsibility" on Assad's regime. Well-informed Arab sources revealed here today that consultations began here earlier today between a number of Arab states and the General Secretariat of the Arab League to convene a meeting of the 140th regular session at the Arab foreign ministers'level here tomorrow , Sunday instead of Tuesday as was scheduled. The sources said the move to make the date earlier was due to the acceleration of events taking place in Syria in light of the increasing speculation of launching a military strike against the Syrian regime. They made clear that some Arab and Gulf states have requested the Secretary-General of the League to convene a ministerial meeting tomorrow, Sunday instead of Tuesday as was scheduled in order for the Arab League to express its own opinion with regard to the situation in Syria, especially in light of the failure of the UN Security Council to reach a decision on launching a military strike against the Syrian regime. The Arab League Council is scheduled to convene at the level of delegates on Sunday morning to prepare for the ministerial meeting.