Arab League hints at Syria’s impending return to fold

CAIRO (AA) – Hossam Zaki, assistant secretary-general of the Arab League, hinted Wednesday at Syria’s possible return to the pan-Arab body, according to Egypt’s MENA news agency.</p> <p>Syria’s membership in the Cairo-based league has been suspended since 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity, triggering eight years of conflict.</p> <p>Zaki told reporters in Cairo that Syria’s return to the Arab League “will depend on the views of league member-states regarding Damascus's willingness to reach a political compromise and the regime’s ties to Iran”.</p> <p>He went on to assert that the Syria crisis would be addressed at an upcoming Arab League summit to be held in Tunisia on Saturday.</p> <p>Last month, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit said there was still “no consensus” among league member-states regarding Syria’s return to the Arab fold.