Arab ministers to discuss options

 Arab foreign ministers are to meet in Cairo today to consider their next step on the situation in Syria. An Arab League official said the ministers are likely to consider calling for a joint Arab-U.N. team of observers to be sent to Syria to investigate President Bashar Assad’s adherence to past promises to halt the violence.

 Damascus allowed in Arab League observers in December, but the mission was halted amid the accelerating bloodshed. The Syrians would be unlikely to accept a new observer team.

 The ministers in Cairo also may discuss formally recognizing the main opposition Syrian National Council in a show of support, but such a step does not yet have full agreement among the ministers, the official said.

Associated Press