Syrian leader's uncle calls for him to step down

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters Via The Daily Star (Lebanon)

November 18, 2011 10:48 AM

PARIS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down quickly to stop the country spiralling into civil war, but should be allowed to stay in the country as he is not responsible for the unrest, the incumbent leader's uncle Rifaat al-Assad said on Thursday.

In an interview with French television, Rifaat al-Assad said months of civil unrest had effectively deprived Syria of leadership, and it now risked being torn apart by armed militias and could face a worse upheaval than neighbouring Lebanon's civil war in the 1970s and 80s.

Out of a sense of patriotism, Bashar al-Assad should speed up his departure, he said, but his presence in Syria was not untenable as blood had been shed on both sides, among supporters and opponents of the government.

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(Bashar's cousin, Ribal, speaking to the BBC on Thursday...) "I have been talking to people in the military and in the military secret service lately in Syria who also are tired and are against what is happening," he said. "They are tired of the violence that's being used against people."

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Nov-18/154489-syrian-leaders-uncle-calls-for-him-to-step-down.ashx#axzz1e3JXdINn