• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Clinton Says Assad Can't 'Reverse' Changes

June 09, 2011

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to refrain from violence as the United Nations called on the Syrian regime to halt its "assault on its own people."

Clinton, speaking at the end of a meeting on Libya in Abu Dhabi, said Assad can't prevent the changes wanted by the people of Syria.

"We are working with our partners in the international community to bring an end to the violence and to support political and economic reforms. President Assad may try to delay the changes under way in Syria, but he cannot reverse them," Clinton said.

At the same meeting, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe accused Assad's regime of "massacring" its civilians who are seeking more freedom.

Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, meanwhile urged the Syrian regime to allow her fact-finding mission to investigate all allegations of rights violations.

She said her office has received reports that the number of people killed in a crackdown on protesters against President Bashar al-Assad's regime since March has exceeded 1,100, with up to 10,000 detained.

Pillay called on Syria's neighbors to keep their borders open for refugees fleeing Syria.

Turkey says it has received some 2,400 Syrian refugees so far.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/clinton_says_assad_cant_reverse_changes/24230189.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.