Arab League to convene Wednesday to discuss Russian proposal on Syria

The Arab League will hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a Russian proposal for dealing with alleged Syrian chemical-weapons stockpiles. "The meeting, to be chaired by Libya, will tackle the latest developments in Syria, including a Russian proposal to place Syrian chemical weapons under international control," Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed bin Heli told Anadolu Agency. On Monday, Russia called on its Syrian ally to put its chemical arsenal under international supervision to avert an anticipated US military strike – a proposal that was approved by Damascus. The United States is mulling a possible military strike against Syria over the alleged use last month of chemical weapons by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Last month's poison gas attack in the Ghouta region near Syrian capital Damascus reportedly killed more than 1,600 civilians, including women and children. The Arab League, along with Syria's anti-Assad opposition, blamed the attack on Syrian regime forces, a claim that Damascus vehemently denies. Earlier on Tuesday, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi voiced support for the Russian proposal, reiterating the pan-Arab body's support for a political solution to the ongoing conflict. "The Arab League has sought a political solution [to the Syria crisis] from the beginning," al-Arabi told reporters at league headquarters in Cairo. "The Arab League will signal its support for the Russian proposal in an official statement," he added. Al-Arabi, along with Egypt and Iraq, favor a political solution – as opposed to a military one – to the ongoing conflict in Syria. Saudi Arabia and Qatar, meanwhile, have both called for firm action against the Syrian regime and for bringing those responsible for the recent chemical attack to justice.