Qatar says Arab monitors in Syria made mistakes

Qatars prime minister said Wednesday the Arab League observer mission in Syria has made some mistakes and he was turning to the United Nations for help.Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani discussed the monthlong mission with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York amid mounting criticism that the observers are simply giving the Syrian regime cover for its ongoing crackdown on a nearly 10-month-old uprising.We are coming here for technical help and to see the experience the U.N. has, because this is the first time the Arab League is involved in sending monitors, and there are some mistakes, he said, according to Kuwaits state news agency.Asked what kind of mistakes, he replied: This is the first experience for us. I said we have to evaluate what sorts of mistakes we have (made). There is no doubt for me. I can see there are mistakes, but we went there not to stop the killing, but to monitor.The Arab Gulf nation of Qatar has been at the forefront of criticism of Syria and has pushed for Arab League sanctions against Damascus.About 100 Arab League observers are in Syria to assess whether President Bashar Assads regime is abiding by an Arab peace plan that requires the government to remove security forces and heavy weapons from cities, start talks with opposition leaders and free political prisoners. The League claims it has won some concessions from Syria, including the pullout of heavy military weaponry from cities and the release of thousands of prisoners.