Several regional and international organizations and leaders, including influential opposition figures in Syria Monday widely welcomed the stand adopted by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, toward the unrest in Syria. Late Sunday, King Abdullah recalled the Kingdom's ambassador to Syria, slammed the government's crackdown on protesters as “unacceptable” and called for Damascus to make “comprehensive reforms” to meet the aspirations of its people. “What is happening there (in Syria) is not accepted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the King said in a written statement to the Syrian people, which was read out on Saudi TV. “There is no justification for the bloodshed in Syria, and what is happening has nothing to do with religion or ethics. The Syrian leadership could activate comprehensive reforms quickly.” Following the Kingdom's recall of its ambassador to Syria, Kuwait and Bahrain also recalled their envoys from Damascus. The United States said it was “heartened” by Arab condemnation of Syria. “We are very much encouraged, heartened, by the strong statements that we have seen over the weekend by the Arab League as well as by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington. Dr. Abdul Lateef Bin Rashed Al-Zayyani, Secretary General of the GCC, lauded King Abdullah's historic speech on the developments in Syria and his sincere call to stop the bloodshed and start comprehensive and speedy reforms. The Muslim World League (MWL) described King Abdullah's speech as a “wise vision.” In a statement, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Secretary General of the MWL, said the Kingdom has rightly called for reforms in Syria that achieve dignity and pride for the Syrian people.Abdul Haleem Khaddam, former Syrian vice president, welcomed the Arab stance supporting the Syrian people's rights. “Undoubtedly, the speech by King Abdullah to his brethren in Syria can be likened to kindling the spark of Arab action toward supporting the Syrian people and rescuing them from the crimes they are being subjected to,” he said in an interview aired on Al-Aalam Al-Aan Radio. Najeeb Miqati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, said King Abdullah's call to stop violence and bloodshed and speed up the aspired reforms would prevent bloodshed in Syria and achieve the Syrian people's hopes. Saad Al-Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon, termed King Abdullah's speech as a turning point in Syria. He said the King's speech expresses a firm vision that Syria would not be allowed to go with the wind. The Syrian opposition welcomed King Abdullah's appeal to the regime and society. They said it was the only way to come out of the crisis Syria is going through and is threatening its future. They said through King Abdullah's appeal, the Syrian people have felt that they are not orphans but have brothers who are concerned about them and their future. Those interviewed by Okaz/Saudi Gazette included opposition figures like Ibrahim Malaki of the Syrian People's Party; Abdullah Al-Khaleel, member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Human Rights Organization and Hassan Saleh, a leading figure in the Kurdish Opposition Electi Party. In his statement King Abdullah said shedding of “blood of innocent people for whatever reasons or justifications” will not be welcomed by Arabs, Muslims and the rest of the world. Syria was at a “crossroads”, King's statement said. “What is happening in Syria is unacceptable to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event is greater than can be justified by reasons, but rather the Syrian leadership can activate quick and comprehensive reforms. The future of Syria is between only two options: either it chooses wisdom willingly, or drifts into the depths of chaos and loss, may Allah forbid.” “The brotherly Syrian government and people know the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stood by it in the past. Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands before its historical responsibility toward her brothers, demanding the stoppage of the killing machine and bloodshed, use of reason before it is too late, introduction and activation of reforms that are not entwined with promises, but actually achieved so that our brothers the citizens in Syria can feel them in their lives as dignity, glory and pride. In this regard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces the recall of its ambassador for consultation on current events there.”
