Panetta: Syria "spinning out of control"

2012-07-18 3

Celebratory gunfire in the Syrian city of Idlib after two members of President Bashar al Assad's inner circle were killed. Syrian Defence Minister Daoud Rajha and the president's brother-in-law were killed by a suicide bomber in Damascus.

It's the most serious blow to the leadership since the revolt began 16 months ago.

Just outside of Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta --- seen here with his British counterpart, called for Assad to step down.

SOUNDBITE: U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta saying:

"This is a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control and for that reason it is extremely important that the international community working with other countries that have concerns in that area have to bring maximum pressure on Assad to do what's right, to step down and allow for that peaceful transition."

The attack follows four days of fighting in the capital -- which had largely been unscathed by the violence that has decimated many cities throughout the country.

Deborah Gembara, Reuters.

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