The Arab League has voted to suspend Syria as the government there continues to violently oppress pro-democracy protesters.
In the last eight months, the UN says 3500 people have died in the Syrian Government's crackdown.
But can the Arab League's sanctions work where criticism from the West did not?
Otago University professor Robert Patman spoke to Firstline this morning.
Click ‘view video’ to watch the full report.
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