Ban expresses hope Syria to implement Arab League deal

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed hope that Syria will implement "without any delay" the Arab League's initiative to end the bloody crackdown that went on "for too long." "I am aware that the League of Arab States and the Syrian Government have made an agreement and understanding. I hope that this agreement will be implemented without any delay," Ban told a press conference in Tripoli where he made a short visit on his way to G-20 summit in Cannes, France.President Bashar Al-Assad, he said, "has not kept his promises. Now that it is reported that he has agreed with the League of Arab States (initiate), he must implement as soon as possible," he urged.He said the international community - the United Nations and myself and many leaders - particularly the leaders of the League of Arab States, have been expressing their deep concerns to the current situation in Syria. "People have been suffering too much, too long, in Syria. More than 3,000 people have been killed. It is a totally unacceptable situation. There should be accountability and their human rights must be protected. Killing Syrian people must stop immediately," he reiterated.The Arab League proposal calls for the Syrian government to withdraw security forces and heavy artillery from the streets and stop violence by government forces against demonstrators. It also calls on Syria to release political prisoners and begin talks with the Syrian opposition in Cairo within two weeks.