war Obama Tweet submit « « PREVIOUS POST Trudeau tells Obama Canada will be ‘strong’ partner against IS NEXT POST Suu Kyi begins ‘reconciliation’ talks amid Myanmar transition jitters » » Obama says Assad must go to end Syria civil war
 |
| Obama |
Syria’s civil war would not end unless Bashar al-
Assad leaves power, discounting suggestions the
Middle Eastern leader could take part in future
elections.
“I do not foresee a situation in which we can end
the civil war in Syria while Assad remains in
power,” Obama said on the sidelines of a trade
summit in Manila.
Assad’s fate has become a key stumbling block to
peace in Syria and a point of contention between
the West and Assad’s backers in Moscow and
Tehran.
Obama’s comments come days after meeting
Assad’s top backer, Russian President Vladimir
Putin, which appeared to see the two sides edge
closer to an agreement.
Russia, seeking to maintain its foothold in Syria,
has strongly opposed Assad’s ouster.
But Obama insisted Syrians would not accept Assad
staying in power, after a brutal civil war that has
seen his regime carry out indiscriminate attacks on
civilians.
“Even if I said that was okay, I still don’t think it
would actually work,” Obama said.
“You could not get the Syrian people — the
majority of them — to agree to that kind of
outcome.”
Ending the four year war in Syria has taken on
increasing urgency as the Islamic State group has
gained more and more territory, assets and
recruits.
The militants are suspected of carrying out large-
scale terror attacks in Paris, Beirut and the
bombing of a Russian airliner, killing hundreds of
civilians.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments......