jordan king calls on assad to resign

[esperanza]

Jordan's King Abdullah calls on Assad to 'step down' King Abdullah of Jordan has said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down in the interest of his country.

"I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down," he has told BBC World News in an exclusive interview.

"I would step down and make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo that we're seeing."

Neighbouring Jordan has been highly critical of Syria's crackdown on anti-government protesters in recent months.

King Abdullah said the president should begin a new era of political dialogue before stepping down, as there was no-one behind him to change the status quo.

"Again I don't think the system allows for that, so if Bashar has the interest of his country, he would step down, but he would also create an ability to reach out and start a new phase of Syrian political life."

Earlier on Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem reacted defiantly to the Arab League's suspension of Syria's membership over the repression.

In Brussels, European foreign ministers are expected to approve moves to tighten sanctions against Syria later on Monday.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said it was time to see how Syria's civilian population could be better protected and said he hoped the UN Security Council would finally take a position on the matte

 

[esperanza]

king abdullah says

On Middle East politics
"If Syria is kept in isolation, you are going to continue to see what is going on pretty much the same. However there are other forces at play, there is still the Arab peace proposal between the Israelis and the Palestinians. You have the Arab Spring in general. Recently we have maybe some hype moved on the Iranian portfolio because of the nuclear issue. The Turks are taking more aggressive stands in the north. What's going to happen in Lebanon? As you well know the Middle East is a mosaic of things and I think the problems that are challenging leaders in the Middle East is if there is life after Bashar what is that? And I think a lot of people are concerned because the unknown is scaring them more than the known."

 

[Hatty]

I am glad to see the beginning of the end of the Alawi regime.

Historically, when the Sunnis have ruled, the rights of the other minorities were protected. So the solution is to give the Sunnis their ruling position. Any other ideology other than the Sunnis, have proved to be a force for oppression.

 

[Perseveranze]

Lol, hypocrisy or what. Jordanian's king, being a dictator himself really shouldn't be telling another dictator to step down lol.

 

[Abu Talib]

Assalamu`alaykum

The noose is tightening around Assad to cede power but I speculate something bad to happen before he leaves. He already has mined the Lebanon border and deployed forces near the turkish border.

Upon getting kicked out of the Arab League they have really felt shame so now they are ready to let in Arab League observers in Syria.