‘Friends of Syrian People’ kicks off in Tunis; Saudi delegation pulls out citing ‘inactivity’

‘Friends of Syrian People’ kicks off in Tunis; Saudi delegation pulls out citing ‘inactivity’.(AlArabiya).The Saudi delegation withdrew from the “Friends of the Syrian People” meeting in Tunis over what it saw as the gathering’s “inactivity”, Al Arabiya reported.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal left the meeting after saying in a speech that focusing on humanitarian aid to Syria was “not enough.”“There is no other means but transferring power either voluntarily or by force. Is it justice to offer aid and leave the Syrians to the killing machine? ” he said.
Faisal said that the Syrian regime has lost legitimacy and turned into an occupation-like authority. “My country will not take part in an action that will not lead to the quick protection of the Syrians,” he said.Faisal said that giving weapons to the Syrian opposition facing a violent crackdown by government forces is an excellent idea, according to Reuters.
Asked if he thought arming the Syrian opposition was a good idea, the Saudi minister said: “I think it's an excellent idea.”
Asked why, he said: “Because they have to protect themselves.”
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani backed calls at the conference for an Arab peacekeeping force in Syria.
“We want this meeting to be a start to stopping the violence in Syria and this cannot be done except after the formation of an international Arab force to maintain security, the opening of secure humanitarian corridors to bring aid to the Syrian people and the application of Arab League decisions,” he told the meeting.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Araby called on the U.N. Security Council to issue an urgent resolution calling for a ceasefire in Syria.“This conference should make practical moves and prioritize the issuance of an urgent Security Council resolution for a ceasefire,” he told the opening session of the meeting in Tunis.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on the world to find ways to deny the Syrian government “the means with which to perpetrate atrocities against the Syrian people.”“We must seek ways and means of enforcing an arms embargo upon the regime,” Davutoglu told the meeting in the Tunisian capital.He said a significant number of countries taking part in the meeting, including Turkey, had already put into effect such measures, but a broader effort was needed.Hmmm......."May you live in interesting times?"Like it or not, we live in interesting times.Read the full story here.

Live blogging on the evolving situation here. (Guardian).