Syria, already facing a growing military insurgency, was left isolated last night after its Arab neighbours voted for an unprecedented package of sanctions.
Arab League ministers meeting in Cairo voted overwhelmingly to carry out their threat to hit financial and transport ties to Damascus after it failed to let in a mission of observers or to alleviate its war on protesters against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Qatar, which has become the Arab world's most prominent voice in support of the "Arab Spring", warned that international intervention against Mr Assad was coming closer. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, the prime minister, said the League's efforts were intended to prevent a repeat of what happened earlier this year in Libya.
"All the work that we are doing is to avoid this interference," he said.
Under the sanctions, regime officials will be banned from travelling to other Arab countries and government bodies will have assets there frozen.
This will make life difficult for regime associates rumoured to have investments
Arab League ministers meeting in Cairo voted overwhelmingly to carry out their threat to hit financial and transport ties to Damascus after it failed to let in a mission of observers or to alleviate its war on protesters against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Qatar, which has become the Arab world's most prominent voice in support of the "Arab Spring", warned that international intervention against Mr Assad was coming closer. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, the prime minister, said the League's efforts were intended to prevent a repeat of what happened earlier this year in Libya.
"All the work that we are doing is to avoid this interference," he said.
Under the sanctions, regime officials will be banned from travelling to other Arab countries and government bodies will have assets there frozen.
This will make life difficult for regime associates rumoured to have investments