Foreign ministers of the Arab League are asking the United Nations Security Council to send a peacekeeping team to Syria. They asked after a meeting in Cairo on Sunday where they discussed whether to renew their own observer’s mission.

The group also asked Arab nations to cut diplomatic ties with Syria to pressure the regime to end its brutal crackdown on protestors, reports The Daily Beast.

A resolution by the Arab League ministers asks for the UN’s help and for Syrian military forces to withdraw from cities. They have demanded this of the troops before.

The Arab League is seeking to end a conflict that may head toward civil war. At the same time some Islamist groups, including al Qaeda are trying to escalate it, reports the N.Y. Times. The organization called on its followers to join the jihad against the Syrian government. On Saturday, the group issued a statement urging Muslims in the region to support the uprising.

Syria has already dismissed the proposal. Syria’s ambassador to Cairo said Syria was “not interested in any decision issued by the League,” according to the N.Y. Times.

Syria’s membership in the group was suspended in November.

The violence in Syria has already killed more than 5,000 people.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said it was wrong for the world to continue to allow the bloodshed.

"Until when will we remain spectators?" Al-Faisal told Newsday. He also said the bloodshed in Syria "is a disgrace for us as Muslims and Arabs to accept."

 

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