Situation in Syria is Assad's fault: White House

Asserting that the "terrible situation" in Syria is the fault and responsibility of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the White House today accused him of acting like a tyrant.
"The fact of the matter is the terrible situation in Syria is the fault and responsibility of Bashar al-Assad. He has murdered tens of thousands of his own people. He has acted with impunity, like a tyrant, to hold onto power, and it is the rightful demand of the Syrian people that they be rid of this tyrant and that they have a say in their future," White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters at his daily news conference.

Responding to questions, Carney said that the US has made clear from the beginning that one of the reasons for political transition in Syria that is necessary is the violence and war being waged by the Assad regime in the country.
"This is the case that we've made to our international partners, a case that we've made to members of the Security Council, that it is in everyone's interest to bring about a transition there because of the threat that further violence and a broader civil war causes to everyone and every country there," he said.
The independent international commission of inquiry on Syria has clarified its statement noting that it has not arrived at any definite conclusion on the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

"The independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has put out a statement clarifying that the commission has not reached any conclusive finding regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria or who used them, if they were used," Carney said.

"The fact of the matter is we are highly sceptical of suggestions that the opposition could have or did use chemical weapons. We find it highly likely that any chemical weapon use that has taken place in Syria was done by the Assad regime. And that remains our position," he said.
Carney refused to use the term "genocide" for the alleged massacre in Syria that killed 100 people.

"It is a level of violence against -- by a regime against its own people that is worthy of contempt and condemnation. What the terminology is that may be used by courts or the United Nations or others, I will leave to them. But it is heinous and despicable. It is the kind of action that long ago rendered Assad incapable of continuing in power with any kind of legitimacy," he said.