European Nations Call for Assad to Leave Office

Following President Barack Obama‘s call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the European Union issued an identical call for the Syrian leader’s departure. E.U. Foreign Policy chief, Catherine Ashton, cited “the complete loss of Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the necessity for him to step aside.” Then Britain, France, and Germany said in a joint statement that Assad “can no longer claim to lead the country,” and should ”step aside in the best interests of Syria and the unity of its people.” Three European countries also expressed support for new E.U. sanctions against the Syrian regime.