U.S. President Barack Obama, joined by the leaders of the U.K., France, Germany and Canada, called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave office, saying “the time has come” for the Syrian people to determine their future.It was the first explicit demand for Assad’s departure from the U.S. and comes more than a month after Obama said Assad had lost legitimacy to lead. The declaration adds to momentum building at the United Nations for a formal resolution against the bloodshed.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also called today on Assad to step down.Obama signed an executive order freezing any Syrian government assets in the U.S. and banning import to the U.S. of petroleum products of Syrian origin. The order denies Syria access to the U.S. financial system and prohibits people in the U.S. from doing business with Syria.
The economic embargo of Syria, an act of war, has begun. Our celebrated peace laureate continues to astound.
