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| Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton | Syria: Assad no longer legitimate, says Clinton |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US Secretary of State has said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has "lost legitimacy", amid diplomatic tension between the two countries. | The US Secretary of State has said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has "lost legitimacy", amid diplomatic tension between the two countries. |
| Speaking after a crowd attacked the US embassy in Damascus, Hillary Clinton said Mr Assad was "not indispensable". | |
| France blamed the regime after its embassy was similarly targeted. | France blamed the regime after its embassy was similarly targeted. |
| The embassy attacks came after the US and French envoys visited the troubled city of Hama last week, drawing sharp criticism from Syrian media. | The embassy attacks came after the US and French envoys visited the troubled city of Hama last week, drawing sharp criticism from Syrian media. |
| Pro-government demonstrators have been taking part in protests outside both embassies for the past two days. | Pro-government demonstrators have been taking part in protests outside both embassies for the past two days. |
| On Monday, an embassy official told the BBC that the compound had been assaulted by a "mob", but that no-one had been hurt. | On Monday, an embassy official told the BBC that the compound had been assaulted by a "mob", but that no-one had been hurt. |
| The residence of the ambassador, Robert Ford, was later briefly attacked, the state department said. | The residence of the ambassador, Robert Ford, was later briefly attacked, the state department said. |
| In Washington, Mrs Clinton demanded that the Syrians "meet their international responsibilities immediately to protect all diplomats and the property of all countries." | In Washington, Mrs Clinton demanded that the Syrians "meet their international responsibilities immediately to protect all diplomats and the property of all countries." |
| She added: "President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power. | She added: "President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power. |
| "Our goal is to see that the will of the Syrian people for a democratic transformation occurs." | "Our goal is to see that the will of the Syrian people for a democratic transformation occurs." |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington said her statement was cleverly worded - it might convince more Syrians to give up on Mr Assad, while not requiring any action by Washington which can continue to say it is up to the Syrian people to chose their leaders. | The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington said her statement was cleverly worded - it might convince more Syrians to give up on Mr Assad, while not requiring any action by Washington which can continue to say it is up to the Syrian people to chose their leaders. |
| The state department has summoned the Syrian charge d'affaires in Washington to complain about the "outrageous" attack against the American embassy in Damascus. | The state department has summoned the Syrian charge d'affaires in Washington to complain about the "outrageous" attack against the American embassy in Damascus. |
| It will also seek compensation for the damage from the violence. Syrian ambassador Imad Moustapha, who is said to be on holiday, had been summoned to the state department last week. | It will also seek compensation for the damage from the violence. Syrian ambassador Imad Moustapha, who is said to be on holiday, had been summoned to the state department last week. |
| US officials said they were looking into reports that Syrian embassy staffers were conducting surveillance of Syrian citizens in the US with anti-Assad views. | US officials said they were looking into reports that Syrian embassy staffers were conducting surveillance of Syrian citizens in the US with anti-Assad views. |
| The mob attack was apparently in retaliation for ambassador Robert Ford's visit to Hama. But Washington has no regrets about his trip, saying it was intended to show the US stood by the Syrian people demonstrating peacefully. | The mob attack was apparently in retaliation for ambassador Robert Ford's visit to Hama. But Washington has no regrets about his trip, saying it was intended to show the US stood by the Syrian people demonstrating peacefully. |
| The Obama administration has agonised over how to handle Syria- it has little leverage over Damascus and worries about post-Assad chaos. But the visit to Hama seemed to signal the US has decided to lock horns with the Assad government. | The Obama administration has agonised over how to handle Syria- it has little leverage over Damascus and worries about post-Assad chaos. But the visit to Hama seemed to signal the US has decided to lock horns with the Assad government. |
| Our correspondent adds that the US had been wary of a repeat of the Libya scenario, where after calling for Col Muammar Gaddafi to leave power, it has struggled to make that happen. | Our correspondent adds that the US had been wary of a repeat of the Libya scenario, where after calling for Col Muammar Gaddafi to leave power, it has struggled to make that happen. |
| State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said a Syrian diplomat would be summoned over attack on the embassy, and compensation for the damage would be demanded. | State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said a Syrian diplomat would be summoned over attack on the embassy, and compensation for the damage would be demanded. |
| Live shots | Live shots |
| Also on Monday, pro-Assad demonstrators assaulted the French embassy, breaking windows and replacing the French tricolore with the Syrian national flag. | Also on Monday, pro-Assad demonstrators assaulted the French embassy, breaking windows and replacing the French tricolore with the Syrian national flag. |
| French ambassador Eric Chevallier said the incident had lasted more than three hours, and that the protesters had used a battering ram to try enter the building. | French ambassador Eric Chevallier said the incident had lasted more than three hours, and that the protesters had used a battering ram to try enter the building. |
| Three embassy staff were hurt in the incident, according to the French foreign ministry. | Three embassy staff were hurt in the incident, according to the French foreign ministry. |
| Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said security officers had been forced to fire live warning shots "to prevent multiple intrusions into the compound". | Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said security officers had been forced to fire live warning shots "to prevent multiple intrusions into the compound". |
| "It is not with such illegal methods that the authorities in Damascus will turn the attention away from the fundamental problem, which is to stop the repression of the Syrian population," Mr Valero said. | "It is not with such illegal methods that the authorities in Damascus will turn the attention away from the fundamental problem, which is to stop the repression of the Syrian population," Mr Valero said. |
| Human rights groups say at least 1,400 civilians and 350 security force personnel have been killed since anti-government demonstrations across Syria began in mid-March. | Human rights groups say at least 1,400 civilians and 350 security force personnel have been killed since anti-government demonstrations across Syria began in mid-March. |
| Both Mr Chevallier and Mr Ford made separate visits to the northern city of Hama - a focus of anti-government unrest - last week, expressing support for the protesters. | Both Mr Chevallier and Mr Ford made separate visits to the northern city of Hama - a focus of anti-government unrest - last week, expressing support for the protesters. |
| The Syrian government denies targeting civilians, saying it is tackling armed groups. | The Syrian government denies targeting civilians, saying it is tackling armed groups. |
| The embassy incidents coincide with a government-organised dialogue conference in Damascus that many opposition leaders are boycotting. | The embassy incidents coincide with a government-organised dialogue conference in Damascus that many opposition leaders are boycotting. |
| The meeting is discussing possible political reforms, which the government hope will bring an end to the four-month-old uprising. | The meeting is discussing possible political reforms, which the government hope will bring an end to the four-month-old uprising. |
| As the conference opened on Sunday, Vice-President Farouq al-Shara hinted at allowing political groups other than the ruling Baath Party to operate. | As the conference opened on Sunday, Vice-President Farouq al-Shara hinted at allowing political groups other than the ruling Baath Party to operate. |
| But Syrian opposition figure Michel Kilo dismissed the meeting saying: "I don't know anyone from the opposition to which I belong who is taking part in this dialogue." | But Syrian opposition figure Michel Kilo dismissed the meeting saying: "I don't know anyone from the opposition to which I belong who is taking part in this dialogue." |
| Are you in Syria? What do you think of Hillary Clinton's comments about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? Send us your thoughts using the form below. | Are you in Syria? What do you think of Hillary Clinton's comments about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? Send us your thoughts using the form below. |
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