CRACKDOWN

Arab League: We've Failed in Syria

Violence hasn't let up, snipers remain.

Despite Syria's efforts to withdraw the military to the outskirts of cities, snipers are still a threat and gunfire continues, the head of the Arab League said Monday. Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said gunmen are still an insidious presence on rooftops, although security forces have pulled tanks and heavy weapons out of urban centers. Arab League observers have been in the country since Tuesday to oversee a peace plan, but they are now saying that, so far, they have failed to end the violence. Syrian activists say observers have led Arab League officials to the outskirts of protest hubs rather than to the violent hotspots, and while some are optimistic that the mission will be successful, others are more skeptical.