In a news conference a few hours before the extension to the observer mission was announced, Mr Muallem had drawn a distinction between the mission and the new Arab League peace plan announced on Sunday, he adds.
In 2000 Bristol-Myers won a four-month extension for its BuSpar anxiety drug by obtaining--only hours before the main patent was to expire--a new patent on how the drug is metabolized.
Senate Republicans say Mr. Boehner had signed off on the two-month extension, but House Members revolted over the weekend and so the Speaker flipped within 24 hours.