Introduction to the evening news 03 11 2011

3^min

Twenty-four hours after the Cairo Agreement, there are no signs of implementing the Arab initiative in Syria. Today was a bloody Thursday in Homs and tomorrow is expected to be a testing Friday all across Syria. In fact, the Local Coordinating Committees will take advantage of the call to hold down arms and ease the security grip by taking to the streets in a clear challenge to the regime that is facing a double dilemma: If it allows the freedom of movement and demonstration, it would risk losing control of the situation which may create other "Tahrir Squares" in all rebel cities. And if it uses excessive force, it may be accused of nipping the Arab initiative in the bud.

The show has not yet started and questions still lack answers. Tanks are still in the streets and murders continue. The members of the Syrian National Council who briefed the Secretary General of the Arab League today on the details of the initiative said they did not consider a dialogue with the regime; rather, they offered to hold negotiations to ensure the transfer of power while demanding the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Moreover, the dialogue's venue remains unknown as Arab League officials stress that it should be held in Cairo and not in Damascus, the favored venue of the Syrian leadership. The question remains: was the acceptance of the initiative an opportunity for all parties to win time? Would the Arab League be held responsible for the failure of the initiative since they have gotten into the weeds of the crisis? Would holding it responsible divide the Arab ranks? What is the executive mechanism of the agreement and what would the Arab League do should its plan fail? Did the regime use its acceptance as a tactic to create schisms among Arabs to avoid a unified position on the internationalization of the Syrian crisis? Would the initiatives failure pave the way for internationalization?

In waiting for answers, Homs slides into a sectarian, civil war according to the semi-official al-Watan newspaper.

Lebanon News

evening

03-11-2011

Lebanon’s State Security hails troops’ efforts in new year security plan

Introduction to the evening news 03-11-2011

Lebanon News

evening

03-11-2011