U.S. to Maintain Efforts to End Syrian Fighting
The U.S. will “redouble efforts” with partners outside the United Nations to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end violence and step down, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
The U.S. will work to strengthen international sanctions against Syria and “expose those who are funding the regime,” Clinton told reporters in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia today.
Russia and China yesterday vetoed a proposal by Western and Arab countries that backed an Arab League plan to facilitate a political transition in Syria. It was the second time Russia blocked attempts at the UN to hold Assad accountable for a conflict that the UN says has killed more than 5,400 people.
“Faced with a neutered Security Council, we have to redouble our efforts outside of the United Nations with those allies and partners who support the Syrian people’s right to have a better future,” Clinton said. “Assad must go.”
The Arab League in November imposed sanctions on the regime and sent monitors to the country in an effort to stop the violence. The league later drafted a plan that called on Assad to step down in favor of a national unity government.
“We will work to expose those who are still funding the regime and sending it weapons to be used against defenseless Syrians, including women and children,” she said. “We will work with the friends of a democratic Syria around the world to support the opposition’s peaceful political plans for change.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Elizabeth Konstantinova in Sofia at ekonstantino@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James M. Gomez at jagomez@bloomberg.net
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