Syria 'to allow Arab observers in'

Syria has agreed “in principle” to allow an observer mission into the country, a senior official in Damascus said today, as fresh anti-government protests erupted and France called for the UN to act against President Bashar Assad.

The Arab League formally suspended Damascus this week over its crackdown on an eight-month-old uprising, which the UN estimates has killed more than 3,500 people. The group wants to send hundreds of observers to try to help end the bloodshed.