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| Photo by AP with courtesy taken from New York Times |
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday demanded that the world take action on Syria, saying that the regime must face consequences after the use of chemical weapons. Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Obama defended his threat of force against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and denounced critics who accuse the United States of inconsistency.
“There must be a strong Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so,” Obama told world leaders.
Obama lashed out at doubters who questioned whether Assad carried out the August 21 chemical attack near Damascus, which US intelligence says killed some 1,400 people.
“These rockets were fired from a regime-controlled neighborhood, and landed in opposition neighborhoods,” Obama said.
“It is an insult to human reason – and to the legitimacy of this institution – to suggest that anyone other than the regime carried out this attack,” he said.
“I do not believe that military action – by those within Syria, or by external powers – can achieve a lasting peace. Nor do I believe that America or any nation should determine who will lead Syria,” Obama said.
“Nevertheless, a leader who slaughtered his citizens and gassed children to death cannot regain the legitimacy to lead a badly fractured country,” he said of Assad.
Obama’s remarks come as the United States and Russia wrangle over a UN Security Council resolution that would accompany an agreement by Syria to give up chemical weapons.
The US-Russia deal at least temporarily halted a push by Obama and supported by France for a military strike on Syria.
Diplomatic path toward Iran must be tested
US President Barack Obama told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that there should be a basis for an agreement on Iran’s nuclear ambitions but that the roadblocks will be difficult to overcome.
In an address laying out US policy toward the volatile Middle East and North Africa, Obama made clear that the United States will take direct action to eliminate threats when necessary and will use military force when diplomacy fails.
Obama, in closely watched remarks on Iran based on a diplomatic opening offered by Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, said the United States wants to resolve the Iran nuclear issue peacefully but is determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
“The roadblocks may prove to be too great but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested,” Obama said.
He urged the UN Security Council to approve a strong resolution aimed at ensuring Syria keeps its commitments to give up chemical weapons and said the United States will provide an additional $340 million in humanitarian aid.
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