West, SNC Reject Assad Plan to End Crisis

Local Editor

The West and the so-called Syrian National Council rejected an initiative by resident Bashar al-Assad aimed at ending the ongoing crisis in Syria.

US refused the plan, branding it as an attempt by Assad to cling to power.
It was "yet another attempt by the regime to cling to power and does nothing to advance the Syrian people's goal of a political transition," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in Washington.

"His initiative is detached from reality," she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad drew the map of a proposed solution to the crisis in Syria that included a national reconciliation conference, a new government and constitution. However, he demanded regional and Western countries stop funding and arming terrorists first.

Commenting on Assad speech, the office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Europe's position remained that Assad should step down to permit a political transition.

"We maintain our position that Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition," a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in Brussels.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Assad's speech was full of "empty promises" and would "fool no one".

Meanwhile, the SNC said Assad had ruled out any dialogue with the militants, making negotiations impossible.

In this context, resident Assad called for dialogue with opposition elements, but vowed to stand fast against insurgents and their foreign backers.

On the other hand, Egyptian President Mohamad Mursi told CNN he would endorse any “decision by the Syrian people to put Assad on trial before the International Criminal Court for war crimes.”

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