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Hollande Says France, UK Agree Faster Syria Transition Needed

France and Britain have agreed on the need to speed up the transition from President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria to a new government, French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday.

"David Cameron and I are in total agreement -- we must accelerate the political transition (and) help the opposition to form a government," said Hollande, after talks with the British prime minister in London.

"We have a duty to help the Syrian opposition in any way we can," Hollande added in a statement with Cameron at his side.

The French president was attending the London Paralympic Games on Thursday as well as meeting with Cameron on issues ranging from Syria to the ongoing eurozone crisis.

Britain and France are among the Western nations leading calls for Assad to step down in a bid to end the bloody conflict in Syria, which started almost 18 months ago.

Source: Agence France Presse


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