US, Britain Vow to Create New, Democratic Syria

May 13, 2013

by VOA News

U.S. President Barack Obama says the U.S. and Britain will move ahead with plans to further help the Syrian opposition and build a new Syria without President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama spoke during a joint news conference following a meeting Monday with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House.

The president said both the U.S. and Britain will continue to provide support to the moderate Syrian opposition. He also said both nations are working toward helping to establish a transitional body to govern Syria at an upcoming international summit.

Cameron said there is an "urgent window of opportunity'' in Syria before the world's "worst fears'' would be realized. He pledged to increase support for moderate elements of the Syrian opposition, saying "if we don't work with that part of the opposition then we shouldn't be suprised if the extremist elements grow."

The United States and Russia first proposed organizing an international conference in Geneva to press President Bashar Assad and the rebels seeking to end his rule to engage in peace talks.

The Syrian government has not responded to that request, and the main opposition group has demanded that any agreement not allow Mr. Assad to remain in power.

Obama and Cameron also discussed the upcoming G8 (group of the world's eight wealthiest nations) meeting in Northern Ireland next month, as well as trade and counter-terrorism.

Cameron will also meet Monday with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and travel to Boston to see what Britain can learn from the U.S. response to last month's deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon.

The three-day visit concludes in New York, where Cameron is expected to take part in talks on new global development goals at the United Nations.

The trip is Cameron's first visit to the United States since Obama was elected to a second four-year term in office last year.