In the UK and international press today, all papers report that pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad intensified and that the Arab League gave Damascus a three-day ultimatum to end all violence against civilians. The Guardian notes that King Abdullah of Jordan suggested to Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain lead a forum between Western and Arab countries over the policy towards Syria. The Telegraph report that at least one Arab state has urged PM David Cameron to lead a diplomatic offensive against Syria, after successfully cooperating with regional powers to oust Gaddafi. In other news, the Guardian notes that Iran insisted that a missile blast at an arms depot west of Tehran was not carried out by Israel or the US. The Times notes that the Chief of Staff for Iranian armed forces, Hassan Firouzabadi, said the Iranian missile expert that was killed in the blast was testing the new weapons programme to strike at Israel. The Times also carries a piece on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps who have seized control of and are running a drug trafficking operation linked with a global crime network. Meanwhile, the Financial Times notes that Western diplomats warned Israel that it should transfer over the £63 million in tax funds it is holding back from the Palestinian Authority. Reuters reports that a US official and nuclear diplomacy expert Mark Fitzpatrick told the news wire that an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites may be likelier in 2012 during a US election year, which would allow Israel more room to act alone.

In the Israeli press, the Jerusalem Post front page notes that several Palestinian terrorists from Gaza have undergone expert training from Iran in using anti-tank missiles. The paper also carries a picture and article from the Arab League foreign minister’s meeting in Rabat yesterday. The league gave Syria three days to end the violence against civilians and then will send in observers to assess the situation. Haaretz and Israel Hayom front pages lead with the further resignation of a number of Israeli medical workers from public hospitals due to inadequate salaries and conditions.

In other news, the Jerusalem Post and Ynetnews note that in an interview with PBS television, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said that if Iran would get nuclear weapons then it will create an arms race in the Middle East and the Saudis, Egyptians would also seek these capabilities. Ynetnews reports that Israel eased restrictions to Gaza and is allowing truckloads of construction materials to build several factories.