International pressure mounts on Syria

2011-11-16 19

International patience with Syria is growing thin. Attacks on foreign embassies in Damascus over the weekend have all but obliterated any support for the country's government.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"You keep thousands of political prisoners behind the bars, Bashar, you are required to find those who attacked Turkish flag and punish them"
Erdogan blamed President Bashar Al-Assad for months of bloodshed in violent crackdowns on the country's protesters.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"Nobody expects him to meet the demands of Syrian people and International community anymore. He is constantly deceiving people. Syrian administration is on a thin and dangerous line, like a knife-edge. We all wish them not to enter a dead-end street and turn from the cliff as soon as possible"
Jordan's King Abdullah echoed similar sentiments on Monday -- saying Assad should step down. And the European Union expanded sanctions against Syria this week.
The U.S. applauded the Arab League's decision to suspend Syria's membership and says it hopes for more tough talk at the meetings in Morocco on Wednesday.
U.S. State department spokesman Mark Toner.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. State department spokesman Mark Toner saying:
"We look for the Arab League tomorrow to again send a forceful message to Assad that he needs to allow for a democratic transition to take place and to end the violence against his people.
Mounting pressure for Bashar's ouster hasn't cooled Russia's support for the country.
Exiled opposition leader Burghan Ghalioun says his appeals for help from Moscow fell on deaf ears with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov urging him to continue talks with government.
According to the United Nations, at least 3,500 people have been killed since the unrest in Syria began eight months ago.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.