At least 23 people were killed in Syria's uprising on Saturday, activists say, as the Arab League gave Damascus a new ultimatum to end its crackdown. Arab ministers set a deadline of one day - that is until today - for Syria to sign a deal in which foreign monitors would be sent into the country.

Meeting in Doha, they also confirmed sanctions already agreed against President Assad's regime. "As Arabs, what we fear is that if the situation continues in Syria, Arabs will lose control of it," said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem.