Syrian regime decides to stand up to 'conspiring universe'

Damascus (Syria), Jan.25 (ANI): The Syrian regime has vowed to solve its own problems even if "half the universe" is conspiring against it.

The remarks coming out of Damascus are a clear signal that Arab League efforts to stem the violence are collapsing-something that could pave the way for the U.N. Security Council to step in.

According to Fox News, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem has brushed off the Security Council threat of possible tougher sanctions.

"If they go to (the U.N. headquarters in) New York or the moon, as long as we don't pay their tickets, this is their business," al-Moallem told media in Damascus.

He was reacting to an appeal by the Gulf Cooperation Council for the U.N. Security Council to take all "necessary measures" to force Syria to implement an Arab League's ambitious peace plan announced Sunday to create a national unity government in two months.

Damascus has rejected the plan as a violation of national sovereignty.

The six GCC member nations-Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates - have also announced the withdrawal of 52 monitors they had contributed to an Arab League observer mission that has been heavily criticized for failing to stop the crackdown since it entered the country in late December.

That would leave only about 110 observers on the ground, League officials said, a major blow to an effort that many see as the only hope for a regional solution to the crisis.

The potential for U.N. involvement is a highly charged issue. Any resolution would have to get past veto-wielding Security Council members Russia and China, which has already rejected one Western-backed draft that threatened a possible arms embargo.

The two countries argued that NATO misused a previous U.N. mandate authorizing use of force in Libya.

The U.N. estimates more than 5,400 people have been killed since Syria's uprising began in March, inspired by the wave of revolutions sweeping the Arab world. (ANI)