Moscow, July 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Arab League Monday called on embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to swiftly cede power in exchange for a "safe exit" for him and his family members, al-Arabiya reported.
In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Doha Monday, Arab League foreign ministers called on Assad to "renounce power", the report said.
"There is agreement on the need for the rapid resignation of President Bashar al-Assad," Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was quoted as saying.
The Arab League called on the rebel Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups to form a transitional national unity government along with the "de facto national authority", al-Arabiya said.
The Arab powers also called on the UN General Assembly to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the creation of "security zones" and "humanitarian corridors" in Syria, the report said.
The Arab nations agreed Monday to allocate $100 million in aid for Syrian refugees, Arab League chief Nabil el-Arabi said.
The move comes as Syrian government troops have continued their large-scale offensive to force rebels out of Damascus and the northern city Aleppo, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
More than 3,000 Syrians have escaped to Jordan over the past few days, bringing the number of Syrian refugees in the country to more than 160,000. Another 30,000 Syrians fled into Lebanon last week, the UN refugee agency said.
A total of 450,000 Syrians have left the country and settled at refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon since the beginning of the unrest in March 2011.
Last week, Russia and China vetoed a third UN Security Council resolution threatening to impose sanctions on the Assad government unless it halts a crackdown on rebel forces.
However, the 15-member council voted unanimously to extend a UN monitoring mission in Syria for 30 days.
--IANS/RIA Novosti
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