US State Dept. Issues Stern Warning to Syrian Regime
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JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — U.S. officials released a statement Tuesday strongly condemning the violent crackdown on protesters in Syria.
The statement, from State Department spokesperson Mark Toner, details the escalating violence in Homs, Daraa, and other cities by the Syrian military, which U.S. officials allege has resulted in the deaths of dozens, arrests of thousands, and beatings of peaceful protesters.
“In keeping with the Arab League agreement, we expect that Arab League monitors will be able to deploy and move freely within Homs and other Syrian cities as protesters peacefully gather in reaction to the regime’s excessive violence,” Toner said in the statement. “The monitors should have unfettered access to protesters and to areas most severely affected by the regime’s crackdown. They bear a heavy responsibility in trying to protect Syrian civilians from the depredations of a murderous regime.”
Calling the Syrian military’s actions “repressive,” Toner issued a warning to President Bashar al-Assad: “If the Syrian regime continues to resist and disregard Arab League efforts, the international community will consider other means to protect Syrian civilians.”
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