New Arab ultimatum is 'last chance' for Syria: Turkey

A new Arab League ultimatum which gives Syria until later today to agree to accept observers or face sanctions represents a last chance for the regime in Damascus, Turkey's foreign minister said.

"It is a last chance, a new chance for Syria," Ahmet Davutoğlu told reporters in Istanbul in the final hours before the 1100 GMT deadline.

"We think it is now vital to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people," said Davutoğlu at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Jordan's King Abdullah have both called on their neighbouring leader Assad to quit over a crackdown on protesters which the United Nations says has left more than 3,500 people dead.

The Arab ultimatum was issued Thursday at the end of a crisis meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo, during which the 22-member bloc also for the first time called on the United Nations to help resolve the crisis.