Syrian President Assad's fall 'a matter of time,' says Baird

Syrian President Assad's fall 'a matter of time,' says Baird

clip from article: Baird questioned the credibility of that explanation, citing previous Assad denials that any violence was taking place within the country.

"If it wasn't so serious it would almost be comical," he said.

The foreign affairs minister was appearing to announce the asset freeze and other sanctions against the Assad regime, including a prohibition on all imports from Syria except food and all exports of equipment, including software for the monitoring of telephone and Internet communications. He also said the government was banning any new Canadian investment into the country.

"Canada will continue to put the squeeze on the Assad regime," Baird said. "Assad will fall, the government will fall, it's only a matter of time."

On the asset freeze, Baird could not say how much money and property Canadian banks were holding for the 33 senior Syrian government and military officials and 10 primarily state-run companies listed under the sanctions.

"The financial institutions will be required immediately to review their accounts to find out how much is available and the RCMP will work with that," he said. "Until those reviews have taken place, we can't say to what extent their assets are here."

The foreign affairs minister also reiterated the government's call for all Canadians still in Syria to leave by any means necessary.

Members of the Syrian National Council also criticized the Syrian government's claims al-Qaida was responsible for the twin suicide bombings. They alleged the Assad regime was simply trying to stoke Western fears that Islamist and extremist elements would emerge should there be a change in government.

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