Analysis: Syria's Assad Loses His Grip To Hardliners

[Purveyor]

By Samia Nakhoul

LONDON | Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:55am EDT

(Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad is losing control to his hardline relatives, his forces are overstretched, his government is running out of money and the revolt against his rule is gathering support and funding.

Given all this, analysts and Syrian-based diplomats say the international community is starting to plan for a Syria without the Assads.

The risks of a slide into sectarian war are significant, most Syria-watchers nonetheless say, believing Assad will fight to the end, and start to regionalize the conflict by inciting violence in Lebanon, Turkey and across the borders with Israel.

"Despite everything they have done over the past few weeks -- killing, torture, mass arrests and raids -- the protests are continuing," said one Western diplomat. "This regime will fight to the death, but the only strategy they have is to kill people, and this is accelerating the crisis."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/us-syria-assad-idUSTRE75F3H120110616