A deadline set by the Arab League for Syria to sign a deal allowing monitors into the country expired on Friday without Syria's agreement. This has brought the Arab body closer to imposing sanctions on Damascus over its crackdown on dissidents.

On Friday, thousands of anti-Assad demonstrators protested across Syria. The protests broke out after Friday prayers, the day that has seen the largest demonstrations in the anti-Assad protest movement. Government security forces shot dead at least four demonstrators, according to activists.

Arab foreign ministers said in Cairo on Thursday that unless Syria agrees to let the monitors in to assess progress of an Arab League plan, officials would consider imposing sanctions on Saturday.