German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Tuesday, February 14 for more sanctions against Damascus and praised the Arab League's “firm stance” towards the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, M&C reported, citing DPA.

She spoke just before talks at her Berlin office with Nabil al-Arabi, the secretary general of the Arab League.

Calling for an end to the bloodshed, al-Arabi said: “The killing has to stop.”

Merkel said Germany would support the Arab League, which proposed on Sunday that a peacekeeping mission including UN blue-beret troops be sent to Syria. The Assad regime has rejected this.

“The League has a firm stance,” Merkel said. “The European Union supports this stance and we will reinforce you (by imposing) additional sanctions as well.” EU foreign ministers are to debate the added sanctions at the end of this month.