Clinton Calls for ‘Immense Pressure’ on Assad - Bloomberg

Clinton Calls for ‘Immense Pressure’ on Assad - Bloomberg

clip from article: U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague said Syria’s government was bound to fall and that the UN Security Council will return to the subject of violence in Syria. “This is a doomed regime, as well as a murdering regime,” Hague told Sky News. “There’s no way it can get its credibility back.”

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 for the formation of a national unity government within two months to implement a peaceful handover of power.

The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that, while he “would certainly agree tragic events are happening” in Syria, his country had “made an honest effort.” He said the Arab League “shall not count on the Council” for endorsement of a plan that imposes a timeline on when Assad should leave.

Russia’s alignment with Syria may put at stake the country’s relationship with oil-rich Gulf States led by Qatar that asked the Security Council to endorse their plan to convince Assad to delegate his powers to a deputy to pave way for elections.

“The Russians are doing this to help preserve their navy base in Tartus, their arms trade with Syria and their strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Sullivan said. “In the end Russia will lose its base. Russia has also in many ways lost the Arabs on this.” [read more at link]