Syria’s Crisis Deepening: Pressure Mounts, Saudi King Recalls Ambassador

Batoul Wehbe

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz called on Damascus late Sunday to implement swift and all-out reforms and recalled his country’s ambassador from Damascus for “consultations”, in a rare case of one of the Arab world's most powerful leaders intervening against another. "What is taking place in Syria is unacceptable," the king said in a statement broadcast on late-night state television, urging "comprehensive and quick reforms". "The killing machine and bloodshed must be stopped," he said. He branded the crackdown on protests immoral and in breach of Islamic teaching. "Large numbers of martyrs have fallen, their blood has been shed, and many others have been wounded... This is not in accord with religion, values and morals," he said. He reminded the Syrian government of Saudi support "in the past" but said that the Gulf kingdom had to take an "historic" decision. "Syria should think wisely before it's too late and issue and enact reforms that are not merely promises but actual reforms," the Saudi king said. "Either it chooses wisdom on its own or it will be pulled down into the depths of turmoil and loss." MOUNTING CRITICISM The surprise move by Riyadh followed condemnation by Pope Benedict XVI and the Arab League over the continuing bloodshed. The Arab League called on authorities there to stop acts of “violence” against civilians. US and European leaders pledged to consider new steps to ‘punish’ Syria. Activists said troops with tanks had launched an assault on the city of Deir al-Zor in the east of the country, killing dozens. The past week has seen scores of people killed in a siege of Hama. The Assad regime has pledged reform and accused "armed terrorist gangs" of fomenting the unrest. The government says it is fighting against criminals and armed extremists who have provoked violence by attacking its troops. President Bashar al-Assad roundly defended his security forces. "To deal with outlaws who cut off roads, seal towns and terrorize residents is a duty of the state which must defend security and protect the lives of civilians," state news agency SANA quoted him as saying. SANA also quoted an official military source as dismissing claims that the army was shelling Deir Ezzor with tanks as "completely false and untrue." RETURN MILITARY TO BARRACKS US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meanwhile has asked Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to press Syria to "return its military to the barracks," during his visit to Damascus on Tuesday, an official said. Clinton spoke by telephone with Davutoglu on Sunday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington. "Secretary Clinton discussed the US position that Syria must immediately return its military to barracks and release all prisoners of concern," Toner said.

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