Syria rejects Qatari call for Arab troops

Syria has firmly rejected a Qatari proposal to dispatch Arab troops to the country to quell the unrest, saying the move would open the door for foreign meddling. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that such a move would "worsen the crisis... and pave the way for foreign intervention." On Sunday, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani made a proposal for the deployment of Arab troops in Syria. The Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said Damascus will oppose any attempt to violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity and urges Arab nations to end the media campaign against Syria, which is only worsening the situation. Meanwhile, Arab League observers continue their visits to Syrian cities and towns, and Damascus says it will allow them to stay longer to continue their investigation of the unrest.