Arab League halts Syria mission as violence rages

The Arab League has confirmed it is suspending its monitoring mission in Syria because of "the critical deterioration of the situation".

The pan-Arab bloc also says it is holding talks with Russia - one of the main opponents of the Arab League peace plan - ahead of a United Nations meeting in New York on Monday.

The main Syrian opposition group says it will go to the UN to appeal for protection from President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon.