The Gulf states also called on the Syrian regime to announce a road map for reforms that will fulfill the aspirations of the people.

"The GCC has asked Damascus to adopt serious reforms, guaranteeing full civil rights to the Syrian people," said a statement released by the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh.

The Gulf states expressed their grief and concerns over the deadly suppression of anti-regime protests as Syrians rallied in cities across the country again Saturday and the United States advised its citizens to leave the country because of the growing unrest.

The Gulf bloc expressed deep concerns over the death toll growing day by day because of the ruthless military crackdowns on civilians in different parts of the country.

The Gulf states also pledged to support security and stability in Syria, but called for bringing concrete reforms as soon as possible to "protect the rights and dignity of the Syrian people."

After the Gulf states statement, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem promised "free and transparent" parliamentary elections by the end of 2011.

"But this announcement is a very small step; in fact it is too little and too late," said a GCC official.

He pointed out that the political unrest had also stymied several Gulf investment projects in Syria and harmed efforts to attract capital needed to boost the economy of the country. Saudi Arabia alone has set up 22 projects in agriculture, industry, transport and health sectors with a cumulative investment of millions of dollars.

This is in addition to aid and a few loan facilities including SR375 million given as loans by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to Syria a couple of months back.

Saudi Arabia also hosts thousands of Syrians workers and their families.