Representatives of the Arab League voted Saturday to suspend Syria as reprimand for Bashar al-Assad's brutal response to protestors during the last eight months. More than 250 civilians have been killed in the uprising this month alone.

The Associated Press reported the results of the vote outraged pro-regime demonstrators in Damascus, who responded by throwing eggs and tomatoes at the Qatari Embassy.

The decision was a humiliating blow to a regime that prides itself as a bastion of Arab nationalism, but it was unlikely to immediately end a wave of violence that the U.N. estimates has killed more than 3,500 people since mid-March.

"Syria is a dear country for all of us and it pains us to make this decision," Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim told reporters. "We hope there will be a brave move from Syria to stop the violence and begin a real dialogue toward real reform."

So far, Syria has been resistant toward calls to end its violent response. Wael Merza, secretary general of the Syrian National Council, told Al Jazeera that while the decision makes for a "historical day," it's unlikely protestors will feel much relief from oppressive tactics employed by the government.

"Unfortunately, knowing the nature of the regime, we know the violence will even be more harsh in the coming few days,” he said. “But this move isolates the regime a great extent economically, diplomatically and politically.”

The punishment is in an effort to put pressure on the nation's leadership, a nudge that its actions are unacceptable to Arab neighbors and the rest of the world.  President Obama issued a statement in support of the League's decision: "These significant steps expose the increasing diplomatic isolation of a regime that has systematically violated human rights and repressed peaceful protests."

CNN's Ben Weddeman reported from Cairo that the suspension could contribute to the "huge vacuum" looming in the Middle East, with Iran as "the chief beneficiary."

The uprising in Syria went a long way to undercut Iran's oldest and most reliable Arab ally in Damascus, and Saturday's vote to suspend Syria from the Arab League was an added bonus. Syria is now isolated more than ever before, which means Iran's other allies in the region -- Hamas and Hezbollah -- could suffer, too. … The surviving members of those group photos at the Arab League are clutching at anything they can to make sure they can live for another summit meeting -- and another group photo.

According to the AP report, the League’s 22 members will review their decision during another meeting Wednesday, giving Assad time to prove the suspension unnecessary.

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