Egypt’s Mursi Seeks Plan for Syrian Peace Deal

Courts Iran, Turkey, Saudis for Committee

The UN efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Syrian Civil War have failed, but Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi is looking to start a more regional effort, keeping the West sidelined in a new committee of four.

In addition to Egypt, the committee will include Turkey (host of the rebel leadership), Saudi Arabia (which has openly armed the rebels) and Iran (a close ally of the regime). The Iranian government has been looking to join the peace effort, but NATO nations, particularly the US, had spurned any effort to include them.

The mission is hoping to secure support from Russia and China, which have both opposed NATO calls to invade Syria and impose a regime change. President Mursi will visit Russia and China as well as Iran, where he will attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

Western officials have yet to comment on the new negotiation effort, but the inclusion of Turkey and Saudi Arabia will make it virtually impossible for the major rebel factions to ignore.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.