Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the Inner City to Wall Street to the United Nations

On Syria, Arab League No Longer to Meet UN SC, ICP Learns, Why?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 5 -- In a telling split, Arab League chief Araby is now NOT asking to meet with the UN Security Council. Inner City Press first reported this change, via Twitter, at 9:32 am.

  At the end of his June 4 press briefing on the Council's program of work for June, Chinese Permanent Representative Li Baodong came back to the podium to say that a request had been received from Mr. Araby of the League of Arab States for an informal interactive dialogue with the Security Council, of the time for example done with the head of the African Union High Level Panel on the Sudans, Thabo Mbeki.

  But at 9:15 am on June 5, Inner City Press reliably learned that Araby has no intention anymore to address the Council or have an interactive with its members. After confirming and tweeting it, Inner City Press ran to the Security Council itself where it was multiply confirmed.

  But why did Araby change his mind? Most diplomats consulted by Inner City Press link it, rather obviously, with the Syrian opposition either saying there is no ceasefire, or no more Annan plan.

   Meanwhile another "Syria Superbowl" is slated for Thursday. But what will it be celebrating? Araby is still expected to brief the General Assembly. Meanwhile the press freedom mood in the UN continues to deteriorate. Watch this site.