Syria to extend observer mission for a second month

League officials had warned that the monitors, already depleted by the withdrawal of the six oil-rich Gulf states from the mission, would be confined to base from Wednesday if Syrias agreement was not forthcoming.Foreign Minister Walid Muallem sent a letter tonight to the secretary general of the Arab League (Nabil al-Arabi) informing him of the Syrian governments agreement to extend the observer mission for one month, from January 24 untilFebruary 23, 2012, said a statement carried by the official SANA news agency.Announcement of the letter came after Muallem delivered a stinging attack on the League after its weekend call for President Bashar al-Assad to hand power to his deputy and clear the way for a unity government within two months.Enough of the Arab solutions from now, Muallem said, accusing the Arabs of plotting to internationalise the crisis and taking decisions while knowing that they will be rejected by Damascus.We do not want Arab solutions, he told a televised news conference. We said that two days ago when we refused the initiative and when the ministers council decided to turn to the (UN) Security Council, said Muallem. We categorically refused (this proposal).Muallem said Syria had no choice but to confront the armed groups that the government holds responsible for the violence which the UN says has killed more than 5,400 people since March.It is the duty of the Syrian government to take the necessary measures to address the problem of those armed elements who are wreaking havoc throughout Syria, he said, stressing Russia would never accept foreign intervention.No one can doubt the strength of the Russian-Syrian relationship, based on their history and the interests of both peoples, he said.Western governments have been capitalising on the Arab Leagues tough new stance to embark on a fresh drive for action by the UN Security Council after previous efforts were blocked by Beijing and Moscow.European and Arab nations want a vote next week on a resolution condemning Syrias crackdown on protests and hinting at sanctions, diplomats said.