Arab League: Progress being made in Syria

BEIRUT -- Syrian security forces are still killing anti-government protesters despite the presence of foreign monitors in the country, the head of the Arab League said Monday. But he insisted the observer mission has yielded important concessions from the Damascus regime, such as the withdrawal of heavy weapons from cities.

Syria's opposition groups have been deeply critical of the mission, saying it is simply giving President Bashar Assad cover for his crackdown.

"Yes, there is still shooting and yes there are still snipers," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby told a news conference in Cairo. "Yes, killings continue. The objective is for us to wake up in the morning and hear that no one is killed.

Elaraby stressed the achievements of the Arab League mission, saying Syria's government has pulled tanks and artillery from cities and residential neighborhoods and freed some 3,500 prisoners. He said food supplies have reached residents and protesters' bodies have been recovered.-- AP