Clinton Says Syria Violence 'Unconscionable', Assad Must Go

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday condemned the latest onslaught of violence sponsored by the regime in Syria and said President Bashar Assad had to go.

"The regime-sponsored violence that we witnessed in Hama yesterday (Wednesday) is simply unconscionable," she told reporters.

A solution to the Syria crisis required a ceasefire, a transfer of power and the formation of a representative interim government, she added.

"Assad must transfer power and depart Syria," she said after a late night strategy session with Arab and Western powers on how to increase the pressure on the Damascus regime and bring about political change.

Clinton acknowledged that the United States had not yet been successful in bringing about international action that would have an impact on Assad.

"We have to reiterate our unity, we have to send a clear message to other nations that are not yet working with us, or even actively supporting the Assad regime, that there is no future in that," she said.

"And indeed planning for an orderly transition will be an important step."