Assad urged to go as isolation deepens

Syria stood increasingly isolated as the EU showered praise on the Arab League for its weekend decision to suspend Syrias membership in the bloc over its lethal crackdown on protests.In the first such call by an Arab leader for Assad to quit, Jordans King Abdullah II said in remarks aired on the BBC: I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down.I would step down and make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo that were seeing.But Syrian oreign Minister Walid Muallem told a packed news conference that Damascus would not budge despite the dangerous and shameful Arab League move to suspend its membership.The decision of the Arab League to suspend Syria represents a dangerous step, Muallem said.The EU said it salutes and fully supports the Arab Leagues suspension of Syria for failing to implement a plan to end violence that has left 3,500 dead since mid-March, according to the United Nations.It shows the increasing isolation of the Syrian regime, the EU said, adding that the bloc stands ready to engage with representative members of the opposition... such as the Syrian National Council.Assad has come under mounting global pressure over a bloody eight-month security crackdown in response to unprecedented democracy protests against his regime.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bloodshed continued on Monday, with security forces killing two people in the flashpoint central city of Homs and one in Daraa, the southern cradle of the revolt.EU foreign ministers said the continuing bloodshed in Syria, despite the hopes raised by the Arab peace plan, called for international action.The European Union will continue to press for strong UN action to increase international pressure and urges all members of the Security Council to assume their responsibilities, a joint statement said.