World Leaders Condemn President of Syria
President Barack Obama of the United States issued a statement today calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave office, and Obama froze all Syrian assets within U.S. jurisdiction. In a joint statement, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and British Prime Minister David Cameron also called on Assad to “step aside in the best interests of Syria and the unity of its people.” They asserted that Assad has “lost all legitimacy and can no longer claim to lead the country.” In Geneva, Switzerland, a United Nations (UN) human rights panel labeled the violent crackdown being waged against pro-democracy protesters in Syria a “crime against humanity.” The panel recommended that the UN Security Council refer Assad to the International Criminal Court for prosecution of alleged crimes.
The Syrian navy continues to shell the Syrian port of Latakia despite calls from Turkey and other Middle Eastern nations to halt the offensive. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began the assault on August 14 in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations in the city. His government claims that its forces are attempting to round up armed gangs that moved into Latakia to rob and terrorize the residents. The assault is the latest in a brutal crackdown attempting to end a five-month-old uprising against the Assad regime.
On August 15, the government of Turkey demanded that Assad withdraw his military from Latakia or face an unspecified reaction. Days earlier, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and recalled his ambassador from Syria’s capital, Damascus.
The uprising in Syria is part of what international affairs experts call “the Arab spring.” Similar popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt brought down long-standing governments earlier this year. Activists continue to battle oppressive governments in Libya and Yemen.
Additional World Book articles: