InfoAnda - U.S. and France step up pressure on Syria's Assad |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Logitech unveils Google TV boxes | 7 October 2010
AVA lifts suspension on import of China milk products | 28 December 2008
Cyber attacks against Wells Fargo significant, handled well: CFO | | 13 October 2012

Seoul shares slip 0.5 pct as China yuan hope wanes | 22 June 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : U.S. and France step up pressure on Syria's Assad |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Video Full Focus Editor's choice A selection of our top photos from the past 24 hours. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read News Corp may be at risk for U.S. probe over bribery 4:31am EDT WRAPUP 9-Obama, lawmakers fall short on US debt deal 11 Jul 2011 Euro shaken by debt crisis; dollar benefits 11 Jul 2011 Exclusive: Apple chief patent lawyer to leave 6:41am EDT Wall Street shares down, led by Nasdaq 10:04am EDT Discussed 112 Obama, lawmakers meet for 75 minutes on debt impasse 80 WRAPUP 1-Taxes still a stumbling block in U.S. debt talks 64 Obama faces new obstacles in high-stakes debt talks Watched A Tokyo-Paris flight in under three hours on the horizon Fri, Jun 24 2011 War of words heat up U.S. debt fears 2:52am EDT Obama challenges Republicans on debt talks Mon, Jul 11 2011 U.S. and France step up pressure on Syria's Assad Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Syria says Clinton's remarks on Assad "provocative" 8:42am EDT Clinton says Syria's Assad has lost legitimacy 6:34am EDT Assad loyalists storm U.S. and French embassies in Syria Mon, Jul 11 2011 U.S. slams Syria for 'outrageous' embassy attack Mon, Jul 11 2011 Syrian forces raid Homs, Hama; Assad starts dialogue Mon, Jul 11 2011 Analysis & Opinion Bangladesh Islamists stage strike against dropping Allah from constitution The place with the mostage postage is… Related Topics World » France » Syria » Related Video Clinton condemns embassy attacks in Syria 2:42am EDT Members of the media stand outside the U.S. embassy building after it was attacked by government loyalists in Damascus, July 11, 2011. Credit: Reuters/str By Mariam Karouny BEIRUT | Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:45am EDT BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had lost legitimacy and was losing his grip on power, and France called Tuesday for a Security Council meeting after Assad loyalists attacked the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Denunciations of Assad from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon marked those countries' sharpest condemnation yet of the Syrian president, struggling to put down four months of revolts that have swept the country and threatened his 11-year rule. "From our perspective, he has lost legitimacy, he has failed to deliver on the promises he's made, he has sought and accepted aid from the Iranians as to how to repress his own people," Clinton said, adding Assad was "not indispensable." "We have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power," she said in an appearance with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Fillon said the Security Council's silence on Syria was "unbearable," adding that China and Russia were blocking the adoption of a U.N. resolution, which was unacceptable. France is seeking a U.N. condemnation of the attacks on the embassies and Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Washington had also pushed for a council meeting which should happen later Tuesday. "We hope the Security Council will condemn the embassy attacks," he said. "We want the Security Council to speak out on what has happened." Syria promptly denounced Clinton's remarks, with the state news agency SANA calling them "provocative" and aimed at "continuing the internal tension." "These statements are another proof of the U.S.'s flagrant intervention in Syria's internal affairs. The legitimacy of Syria's leadership is not based on the United States or others, it stems from the will of the Syrian People," it said. DIPLOMATIC MOVES Clinton spoke after crowds broke into the U.S. embassy on Monday and tore down plaques and security guards using live ammunition drove crowds away from the French embassy. The attacks followed protests against a visit by U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford and French envoy Eric Chevallier to Hama, now the focus of the uprising against Assad. Inspired by the protests in Egypt and Tunisia which unseated its leaders, tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets in March calling for more freedoms. The protests were also triggered by anger and frustration at corruption, poverty and repression. Assad has responded to protests with a mixture of force and promises of reforms. He sent his troops and tanks to cities and towns to crush protests. Thousands of people were arrested. Western governments have condemned Assad's violence against protesters, but their practical response has so far been limited to sanctions against top officials, a far cry from the military intervention against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Britain condemned the attacks on the embassies, saying Syrian authorities had failed to carry out their responsibilities under international law to respect diplomatic missions. "This is an issue of direct concern to the UK and to all countries with diplomatic missions in Syria. All EU member states in Syria are today seeking urgent assurances from the Syrian Foreign Ministry," British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said. The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has steadily toughened its rhetoric on Assad as Syrian security forces crack down on pro-democracy protests. But it had previously refrained from calling on Assad to step down as it did following protests against longtime leaders in Egypt and Libya. Washington has imposed targeted sanctions on Assad and members of his inner circle, and has said it is working with its allies to build international consensus for further steps to put pressure on his government. Clinton's comments marked a significant sharpening of U.S. criticism of Assad, whose security forces have waged an increasingly brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protesters. Analysts were skeptical that the sharper rhetoric alone would rattle Assad, who retains the support of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as substantial portions of the minority Alawite community from which his family springs. "If the Americans think he has lost legitimacy, this doesn't mean he has lost legitimacy, it means the Americans think he has lost legitimacy," Rami Khouri, a political analyst based in neighboring Lebanon, told Reuters. "When Ford visited Hama, the dynamic changed. Clinton's remarks have simply raised the temperature," he added. Syria said Ford sought to incite protests. The State Department denied that and said Ford toured Hama to show solidarity with residents facing security crackdown. Hama, a city of 700,000 people, was the scene of a 1982 massacre which came to symbolize the ruthless rule of the late President Hafez al-Assad and has staged some of the biggest protests in 14 weeks of demonstrations against his son Bashar. Human rights groups say at least 1,400 civilians have been killed since an uprising began in March against Assad's autocratic rule, posing the biggest threat to his leadership since he succeeded his father. (Additional reporting by Oliver Holmes, Writing by Joseph Logan, Editing by Diana Abdallah) World France Syria Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Tuesday, 12 July 2011
FBI says unsuspecting commuters carry drugs over Mexican border
UK'S ex-PM Brown says he is a suspected phone hacking victim |
Gas prices changin driving, spending habits of most Americans
Race is on for regional, senior bowlers to qualify for Dick Weber PBA Playoffs
Ex-media tycoon Black to return to jail on September 6 |
Rebecca Black to release official follow-up to 'Friday'
50 dead in Russian cruise ship sinking
Russian space debris being monitored after Atlantis docks with ISS
On-stage fire cuts short Rihanna concert
French police interview Strauss-Kahn accuser Banon |
After much scrutiny, HHS releases health insurance exchange rules
'Acute social marginalization' of Dom community
Israel passes law punishing settlement boycotters |
NHL, NBC announce cooperative media sales deal
Uganda to check Museveni birthday cake for poison |
Apple files fresh patent complaint against HTC |
Target to sell new electronic reader |
RIM annual meeting likely to exacerbate investor ire |
Courts approve Nortel patent sale to Apple/RIM group |
Tainted electronics pose security threat: U.S. rep |
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood to host CMA Awards |
Brother of Afghan president killed: official |
Russia says 128 likely dead in Volga river accident |
Gunmen abduct two Americans in southern Philippines |
Suspected U.S. missile strikes kill 30 militants in Pakistan |
Egypt protesters reject PM offer of cabinet reshuffle |
Federal Reserve to retain record-low interest rate
Chinese court jails six for role in Guangdong riot |
HOLD: Somalia’s pirates : Another ill-fated youngsters
NL's Roy Halladay-AL's Jered Weaver take hill for All-Star Game
The IHeartRadio Music Festival announced
WikiLeaks' Assange in UK court extradition appeal |
Ex-PM Brown claims reporters from Sunday Times, The Sun and others illegally obtained personal information
France's Sarkozy says 1,000 troops to leave Afghanistan |
Coheed and Cambria bass player arrested
No-hio State: standout offensive tackle switches to Michigan
Blacklisted group says Pakistan needs peace, prosperity |
Exclusive: Key Apple patent lawyer to leave, source says |
Sprint subpoenaed by 9 states over AT&T's T-Mobile bid |
Retailers, cash rich, to spend on IT: report |
HTC down after Apple's new patent lawsuit |
Toshiba wants to be top maker of flash memory soon: president |
Arnold Schwarzenegger back in Hollywood saddle, despite scandal |
Rock musician uses cell phone stickup note in robbery |
Appeals court orders Administration to confirm stance on DADT
France says Libya political solution taking shape |
U.S. and France step up pressure on Syria's Assad |
Somalia’s pirates: Ransom cash 'Easy come easy go'
Sudan, South Sudan plan new currencies after split |
Too soon to blame climate change for drought
Turkana reels from severe drought
"Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino returns to show
Afghan President Karzai’s half-brother assassinated
Greek reporters accuse minister on police violence |
Post Hines Ward arrest: Steelers-Ravens rivalry heats up on Twitter
Black Eyed Peas announce they're taking a break
Runoff in California for contentious House race
U.N. says struggling with growing Somali exodus |
Refugee: "I'm doomed to life at way station"
WikiLeaks' Assange in UK court extradition appeal |
Analysis: Doubt creeps in to tech valuations at Sun Valley |
Cisco could eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs: report |
Split Research In Motion in two, RBC analyst urges |
China says piracy problem not extremely serious |
Amazon seeks ballot measure to undo California tax |
EU court says eBay should protect trademarks better |
Sting and orchestra bring magic to Montreux jazz fest |
Argentine singer Cabral killed by gangs: Guatemala |
Rock musician uses cell phone stickup note in robbery |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01