BEIRUT - Syria's embattled regime called for an urgent Arab summit as it faced growing isolation yesterday, not only by the West but by its neighbors, over its bloody crackdown against an eight-month uprising.
The crisis raised regional tensions, with Turkey sending a plane to evacuate nonessential personnel after a night of attacks on several embassies by Syrian government supporters angry over the Arab League decision Saturday to suspend their country's membership.
The 22-member bloc's rare, near-unanimous vote - only Lebanon, Yemen and Syria were opposed - put Damascus in direct confrontation with other Arab powers, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who were pushing for the suspension.
