Hurryet Daily News
Obama: Assad must lead Syria democratic transition or 'get out of the way'
President Barack Obama is telling Syrian leader Bashar Assad that he must either lead his country through a democratic transition or "get out of the way," the first direct U.S. challenge to the Assad family's decades-long autocratic grip on power.
In a broad speech outlining U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa amid upheaval in the Arab world, Obama said Thursday that Syria's brutal crackdown on pro-reform activists is unacceptable.
He said Assad could no longer rule through repression and must change course if he wants international acceptance.
More than 850 people are believed to have been killed in two months of unrest in Syria.
Obama's speech came a day after he imposed sanctions on Assad and six other officials for human rights abuses during the crackdown.
Call for peace talks despite obstacles
Obama said peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are made more difficult by the participation of Iran-backed Hamas in the Palestinian government.
The announcement that Hamas will be part of a unity government with Fatah "raises profound and legitimate questions for Israel" because of Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist, Obama said.
Palestinian leaders will have to address the complication with credible answers, he added.
The U.S. has also designated Hamas a terrorist organization.
But Obama said that despite all the suspicion and hostility he is convinced the majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace and so negotiations must happen.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=obama-assad-must-lead-syria-democratic-transition-2011-05-19
No comments:
Post a Comment