Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to sign a statement at the Group of Eight summit calling for the establishment of a “transitional government” in Syria as quickly as possible, putting more pressure on his ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
The text of the statement on Syria called for “a transitional governing body with full executive powers, formed by mutual consent,” while stopping short of calling for Assad’s ouster. U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters it was “unthinkable” that a transition government could include Assad.
