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Syrian president Assad must go to end civil war, says Barack Obama
US President Barack Obama said on Thursday Syria’s civil war would not end unless President Bashar al-Assad leaves power, discounting suggestions the middle eastern leader could take part in future elections.
US President Barack Obama said on Thursday Syria’s civil war would not end unless President Bashar al-Assad leaves power, discounting suggestions the middle eastern leader could take part in future elections.
“I do not foresee a situation in which we can end the civil war in Syria while Assad remains in power,” Obama said, days after meeting Assad’s top backer -- Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During a meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila, Obama said Russia and Iran must decide whether they want to prop up Syrian President Bashar Assad or “save the Syrian state” by finding a Syrian government that can be legitimate.
He said Assad “cannot regain legitimacy” and the goal of recent diplomatic efforts was to create space that could eventually lead to a “pivot” and political transition.
The US President also said a hoped-for ceasefire might not be observed by all parties but would create “pockets of calm”.
Obama’s comments come amid US hopes that Russia may be warming to the idea of a future Syria that doesn’t include Assad.
At the same venue, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will continue to remain a strong member of the campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
