Thousands of Syrians have protested against the Arab League’s move to sanction President Bashar al-Assad’s regime over its repression of dissent.

In the wake of Syria’s suspension from the Arab League, Jordan’s king has become the first Arab leader to call on President al-Assad to step down.

Syria called for an unrestricted dialogue with Washington on Monday as a senior United States official made the highest-level visit to Damascus in two years for talks limited to…