USA: U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Assad still has time to make his exit from power in Syria

Record ID: 281294

  • Title: USA: U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Assad still has time to make his exit from power in Syria
  • Date: 24th July 2012
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 24, 2012) (STATE TV-ACCESS ALL) WIDESHOT U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER LAURENT LAMOTHE APPROACHING REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAYING: "We do believe that it is not too late for the Assad regime to commence with planning for a transition, to find a way th
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2012 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADOPHE2QITHK0SAG0LML0Y0CBF
  • Story Text: Clinton says it is not too late for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to start planning his departure from office. She urges the Syrian opposition to renounce reprisals and retributions in a post-Assad Syria.
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday (July 24) that despite opposition gains, it was not too late for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to begin planning for a political transition.
    "We do believe that it is not too late for the Assad regime to commence with planning for a transition, to find a way that ends the violence by beginning the kind of serious discussions that have not occurred to date," Clinton told reporters.
    Speaking as if military victory by the Syrian opposition was an inevitability, Clinton told reporters that it was now time to plan for a post-Assad government, urging the rebels think through how they may govern the country and how to prevent sectarian reprisals.
    She said it was also important for Syria's armed opposition to make clear that it was fighting for all Syrians and not to seek reprisals or retribution that could lead to more violence.
    "We think it is very important that the opposition fighters, as they get better organized and expand their presence more broadly, send a message that this is for the benefit of all Syrians, not for any group, not engage in any reprisals and retribution that could lead to even greater violence than currently is taking place," Clinton said at a news conference with Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.
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