Russia has strongly criticised the Arab League decision to halt its observer mission in Syria amid escalating violence, saying the situation demands additional deployment of monitors and not their suspension.<br /><br />Syria also voiced its dismay and surprise over the Arab League decision to halt its observer mission.<br /><br />"Syria regrets and is surprised at the Arab decision to stop the work of its monitoring mission after it asked for a one- month extension of its work," Syria Television reported in an urgent news flash on Saturday.<br /><br />State TV said it was an attempt to influence the UN Security Council and increase pressure for foreign intervention.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Caroline Malone reports.
