DAMASCUS, Syria - Saudi Arabia recalled its envoy to Damascus and the Arab League condemned violence in Syria, leaving President Bashar al-Assad further isolated even as he defended his crackdown on "outlaws".

The surprise move by Riyadh, the Arab world's Sunni Muslim heavyweight, marks a major escalation of international pressure on Syria for its repression of an uprising that has left more than 2,000 people dead.

"Saudi Arabia announces the recall of its ambassador for consultations," King Abdullah said in a statement after Syrian security forces had killed more than 50 people on Sunday.