Arab states responded to Syria's continued crackdown on anti-government protests by voting to impose economic sanctions.<br/> This video posted to a social media website is purportedly from the eastern part of the country. Reuters cannnot independently verify its content.<br/> In Cairo, nineteen of the league's 22 members voted for sanctions that include a travel ban on Syrian officials, freezing government assets and stopping all trade with Syria's central bank. The league's chairman says Syria's refusal to abide by a plan to withdraw troops from major urban areas left them with few options.<br/> Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim al-Thani<br/> SOUNDBITE:Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim al-Thani saying (Arabic):<br/> "We hoped not to have reached this stage, and we really hope we can reach a clear understanding in which the decisions are implemented immediately so that we can move on to a new stage, based on the Arab initiative."<br/> The move is a surprising one for the league -- which has traditionally avoided taking action against its members.<br/> Syria has refused to allow monitors and international media into the country since the unrest, which has claimed 3,500 lives, began.<br/> Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
