BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria incurred more European sanctions and criticism from Turkey and Jordan on Monday after a surprise Arab League decision to suspend it for failing to halt months of violence aimed at crushing opposition to President Bashar al-Assad. Syria looks ever more isolated, but still has the support of Russia, which said the Arab League had made the wrong move and accused the West of inciting Assad's opponents. Despite the diplomatic pressure, there was no let-up in violence and at least two people were killed, activists said. The anti-Assad unrest, inspired by Arab revolts elsewhere, has devastated Syria's economy, scaring off tourists and investors, while Western sanctions have crippled oil exports. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said the League's decision, due to take effect on Wednesday, was "an extremely dangerous step" at a time when Damascus was implementing an Arab deal to end violence and start talks with the opposition. Syria has called for an emergency Arab League summit in an apparent effort to forestall its suspension. The Cairo-based League plans to meet Syrian dissident groups on Tuesday, but its secretary-general, Nabil Elaraby, said on Sunday it was too soon to consider recognizing the Syrian opposition as the country's legitimate authority. Elaraby met representatives of Arab civil society groups on Monday and agreed to send a 500-strong fact-finding committee, including military personnel, to Syria as part of efforts to end the crackdown on demonstrators and dissenters. "Syria agreed to receive the committee," said Ibrahim al-Zafarani, of the Arab Medical Union. Moualem said Syria had withdrawn troops from urban areas, released prisoners and offered an amnesty to armed insurgents under an initiative agreed with the Arab League two weeks ago. Moualem described Washington's support for the Arab League action as "incitement," but voiced confidence that Russia and China would continue to block Western efforts to secure UN Security Council action, let alone any foreign intervention. Moualem apologised for the assaults, which have worsened already tense ties between Syria and its former friend Turkey. The European Union extended penalties to 18 more Syrians linked with the crackdown on dissent and approved plans to stop Syria accessing funds from the European Investment Bank. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was in touch with the Arab League to work on an approach to Syria, but the 27-nation body appears set against military intervention.