(Adds background)
BEIRUT, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Nasser
Judeh said on Thursday that Jordan had withdrawn its monitors
from the Arab League mission to Syria, saying the decision was
taken several days ago when the work of all monitors was
suspended.
"There is no mission and we withdrew in conformity with the
Arab League decision," Judeh told Reuters.
The Arab League said on Saturday it had suspended its
mission in Syria due to rising violence, but has yet to formally
declare the mission over. However, Gulf states had withdrawn
their monitors last week, saying the team could not stop the
violence - which Assad blames on foreign-backed militants.
Jordan, which has a long border with Syria, had accepted the
Arab League peace plan for Syria, which calls for President
Bashar al-Assad to step down in favour of a unity government.
But it fears antagonising Assad and also is concerned that
instability might spill over its frontier.
King Abdullah has also said his country opposed foreign
intervention in his northern neighbour.
The Arab League suspended its month-old mission in Syria
because of worsening violence, a move Damascus said was an
attempt to encourage foreign intervention.
(Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi; Editing by Alastair
Macdonald)
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