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.
