No future for Assad in Syria, says Tillerson

2017-10-27 07:45:34

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared yesterday that Bashar al-Assad has no future as leader of Syria and will have to leave office as part of a UN-mediated peace process.
Tillerson's comments to reporters came during a visit to Geneva in which he met UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is trying to convene a new round of peace talks next month.
The secretary said US policy has not changed, but his remarks represented tougher language from an administration that had previously said Assad's fate is not a priority.
'We do not believe there is a future for the Assad regime, the Assad family, Tillerson said.
'I think I've said it on a number of occasions. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, and the only issue is how should that be brought about.
Assad's regime has been saved by Russian and Iranian military intervention and he insists that he will not stand down in the face of what he regards as 'terrorist rebels. But Western capitals, the opposition and many of Syria's Arab neighbours hold Assad's forces responsible for the bulk of the 330,000 people who have died in the conflict.
The previous US administration often said that Assad's days were numbered.

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