Opposition chief urges world to act on Syria

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Syria’s opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib on Saturday, February 23, slammed world governments for failing to act to stop the bloodshed in Syria, nearly two years into a war that has left some 70,000 people dead.

Khatib made the remarks as he took part in Cairo in a demonstration which he described as “a message of protest to all governments of the world, Arab and non-Arab, that can see how the Syrian people are being killed, while they merely look on.”

“All the administrations of the world can see what is happening… We cannot visit any country until there is a clear decision on this savage, aggressive regime,” Khatib told the Dubai-based Al-Aan pan-Arab television in Cairo.

On Friday, February 22, the opposition coalition said it will boycott an upcoming Friends of Syria meeting in Rome and cancelled planned visits to Washington and Moscow citing the “shameful” inaction of the international community.

The opposition wants world governments to turn into action their statements of support for the uprising against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and are also seeking military assistance for rebels fighting the regime.

The UN Security Council has been blocked from acting on Syria by Russian and Chinese vetoes, while Western powers have become more hesitant to help the armed opposition to Assad’s regime for fear of the rise of radical Islamist groups.

Earlier, National Coalition spokesman Walid al-Bunni told France 24’s Arabic-language channel that the United States must honour promises of support for democracy in Syria.

“Our visit to Washington is on hold until Washington takes a stance that is in accordance with US statements on its support for democracy,” Bunni said.

“The United States is a leading force in the world, as are France, Britain and the European Union. All these have been unable to stop a butcher from committing massacres against our people,” he said, referring to Assad.

“We cannot continue listening to statements that are not accompanied by action… The world has a responsibility to protect (the Syrian people) from a butcher who has been slaughtering them for two years,” Bunni added. – Rappler.com