You're reading: Arab ministers to call on Syria to halt violence

BAGHDAD — Foreign ministers of the 22-member Arab League meeting in Baghdad will ask their heads of state to urge the Syrian regime to halt its crackdown on civilians and allow humanitarian groups into the country.

A draft of the recommendations obtained by The Associated Press mostly echoes earlier Arab League proposals to end the one-year conflict in Syria where the U.N. says more than 9,000 people have so far died.

The ministers are meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday and the heads of state will gather on Thursday.

Shiite-ruled Iraq is hosting the summit to show that it has emerged from years of turmoil and American occupation. But a massive security operation in Baghdad mirrors fears that Sunni militants could try and disrupt the meetings.