Syria misses Arab League deadline,faces sanctions

Assad is facing the most severe isolation his country has seen in decades because of the violence. The escalating bloodshed has raised fears of civil war.

According to Fridays military statement,six elite pilots and four technical officers were killed in an ambush a day earlier in Homs,in an unusually high-level strike. Our armed forces (will) continue to carry out our mission to defend the countrys security,and we will hit back against anything that threatens us, the statement said. It is not clear who was behind the attacks.

On Thursday,the Arab League gave Syria 24 hours to agree to an observer mission or face sanctions,a humiliating blow to a nation that was a founding member of the Arab coalition. But the Friday afternoon deadline passed with no agreement. Instead,Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby received a letter from Syria seeking more details about the proposed observer mission and its legal status.

The League will meet Saturday to decide on sanctions,according to Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed Ben Heli. The punishments could include halting flights and imposing a freeze on financial dealings and assets.

One senior diplomat said the League would still accept an agreement from Syria by the end of the day,even though the official deadline has passed. But Damascus gave no clear signs that it would bow to the pressure.