Arab League praises prisoner release

The plan, which Damascus signed on December 19, is being monitored by about 100 Arab League observers currently in Syria.

It requires Syria's National Progressive Front (NPF) administration to remove security forces and heavy weapons from cities, initiate talks with opposition leaders and free political prisoners.

The League's observers say the government has already withdrawn heavy weapons from cities.

And they say over 4,000 prisoners have been released in recent weeks.

But Syria's disunited Western-backed opposition is accusing the regime of misleading the monitors.

It claims that officials are painting army vehicles blue to look like those of police and sending NPF supporters into rebel neighbourhoods to give false testimony.

But an Arab League official said today that the observers have not reported or complained about being misled by the regime.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that soldiers fired on civilians again today, with six people allegedly killed in Homs and four in Deir el-Zour.

Elsewhere in Homs Syrian citizens "reiterated their commitment to national and pan-Arab stances" at the funerals of four soldiers and police killed by insurgents the previous day, according to a report in Syrian state media.

The NPF has long contended that the nine months of bloodshed in Syria is the work of foreign-backed armed gangs exploiting legitimate political and economic grievances to advance a regime change agenda.

It says around 2,000 army and security personnel have been killed by "terrorists" in the unrest.

The UN says a total of 5,000 Syrians, including civilians, soldiers and police have been killed.

foreigneditor@peoples-press.com