BEIRUT: Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday that the Arab League should have sought U.N. help on the crisis in Syria.

“It is unfortunate that the killing continues [in Syria] and the Arab League should have raised the issue with the United Nations,” Hariri tweeted Monday morning in response to a question about his opinion on the recent report by the Arab League observers.

At a meeting in Cairo Sunday, an Arab ministerial committee gave their widely criticized observer mission to Syria the green light to carry on and pledged to boost the number of monitors.

“I think it’s sad that the [Arab League] is falling into this trap, but I am confident that [the] Syrian people will be free,” Hariri, a staunch critic of President Bashar Assad, said on the micro-blogging website.

The United Nations estimates over 5,000 Syrians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the crackdown by Damascus against anti-government protests since mid-March 2011. Syrian authorities deny targeting civilians and say “armed gangs” have killed some 2,000 members of the army and security forces.

Hariri also praised the Syrian people.

“I have never seen such bravery like the Syrian people, standing in front [of] tanks and being shoot at by criminals,” Hariri said.

Without specifying a date, the Future Movement leader said he would be returning to the country despite any potential risks.

“I am coming back to Lebanon, it’s always a risk but I am willing to take it,” Hariri said.