The following are the main points of the Arab League's decision on Saturday to suspend Syria over its deadly crackdown on protesters:

·         The pan-Arab organisation, at a meeting of foreign ministers, decided "to suspend Syrian delegations' activities in Arab League meetings from November 16 until the total implementation (by Syria) of the Arab plan for resolving the crisis accepted by Damascus on November 2."

·         It called for "the withdrawal of Arab ambassadors from Damascus," while leaving the final say "to the discretion of each sovereign state."

·         The foreign ministers agreed on the principle of "economic and political sanctions," but without elaborating.

·         They invited "all the currents in the Syrian opposition to meet at Arab League headquarters in three days to draw up a joint vision for the coming transitional period in Syria" after which they would decide on whether to recognise the opposition.

·         With "the aim of protecting Syrian civilians," the League decided "to contact immediately the Arab organisations concerned. If the violence and killings don't stop, Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi will contact international organisations, including the United Nations."

·         Of the 22 members, 18 voted in favour. Syria, Lebanon and Yemen voted against and Iraq abstained.