British PM Arrives in Saudi, Says Would Agree Safe Exit for Assad

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he would support granting Syrian President Bashar Assad a safe passage out, if requested, to end the nation's bloodshed, in a television interview Tuesday.

Asked what he would say if Assad asked for a safe exit, Cameron told Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV: "Done. Anything, anything to get that man out of the country and to have a safe transition in Syria."

"Of course, I would favor him facing the full force of international law and justice for what he's done," he said, according to a transcript of the interview made available to the press.

"I am certainly not offering him an exit plan to Britain but if wants to leave, he could leave, that could be arranged," he added.

Cameron who is on a tour of the Middle East, arrived on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia after concluding a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.

"I am very frustrated that we can't do more," Cameron said.

"This is an appalling slaughter that is taking place in our world today -- 40,000 lives lost already and you can see, on your television screens, night after night, helicopters, airplanes belonging to the Assad regime pounding his own country and murdering his own people," he said.

Cameron highlighted the need to help the opposition, without elaborating how.

"We must ask ourselves what more can we do: how can we help the opposition? How can we put the pressure on Assad? How can we work with partners in the region to turn this around?" Cameron said.

But when asked about arming the rebels, he said: "We are not currently planning to do that. We are a government under international law and we obey the law."

"My fear is, firstly, that the slaughter will continue, that the loss of life will continue. That should be our number one concern.

In August, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain would give Syria's rebels £5 million ($8 million) in assistance, including body armor and communications equipment, to use in their fight against Assad's forces.

Hague said at the time that weapons would not be provided but that Britain would step up contacts with opposition groups to lay the ground for a political solution.

The Syrian National Council umbrella opposition group is holding intensive talks in Qatar to broaden its membership to include other opposition factions as Washington mounted pressure for a wider representative body.

Comments 9
Thumb thepatriot 06 November 2012, 16:12

A No fly zone would be a start to spare lifes!

Default-user-icon mazen (Guest) 06 November 2012, 16:23

hypocracy hypocracy!!! maybe he can start by demanding that K.S.A. respect the human rights of its female citizens?

Missing gabby8 06 November 2012, 16:33

A no fly zone and/or arming the rebels will cause a rapid collapse and the ASSad regime in court. That is the answer.

Thumb bigsami 06 November 2012, 16:36

A safe passage to hell!

Thumb geha 06 November 2012, 17:04

now that the US elections are underway, it looks like the Europeans are starting to move and soon the US will follow to close the syrian matter.
probably within a few months from now the assad chapter will be closed for ever.

Thumb tfeh 06 November 2012, 18:33

Assad will stay yalla lets bet!

Missing phillipo 06 November 2012, 17:32

Cameron is only offering it because Assad's wife was born in the UK.

Thumb kanaandian 06 November 2012, 21:50

Wonder why Cameron refuses to give the rebels arms?
Just communications equipment? lol.
Takbeer

Default-user-icon Khsorto Ballachou (Guest) 07 November 2012, 02:32

March 14, my only hope for a Free Syrian Army of Lebanon, now that Cameron has finally agreed to the safe exit for Assad, you can rest assured that your efforts are finally paying off. Believe me! But hey, warriors, don't feel too cozy now and doze off! There is still a lot of work to be done, such as persistently giving advice to the powers that are about enforcing a no-fly zone, and arming the Lybian, Afghani, Egyptian and Yemeni (among others) rebels for a free Syria with anti-tank missiles. Keep up the good work, my compatriots, and let that Free Syrian Army flag fly high above that of Lebanon. God bless you, my only home for a true Lebanon First Lebanon!