Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "maneuvering" to gain time.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "maneuvering" to gain time.

At a joint news conference Sunday with UN chief Ban Ki-moon, al-Faisal said: “every initiative has been accepted by the Syrian regime and was not implemented. This is a way used by the regime to gain time.”
"He is playing for time and maneuvering," the FM told reporters in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, referring to President Assad.

UN envoy Kofi Annan "will present his report (on Syria) in a few weeks... It must be clear, straightforward, precise and transparent," Prince Saud said, adding he "hope the United Nations takes a firm stance."

The Saudi foreign minister, who has repeatedly voiced his country's support for arming opposition militants in Syria, said: "we support creating a buffer zone in Syria which the oppressed can take refuge in... but this is the responsibility of the UN Security Council as the Arab League can't do this."

"The real solution belies in protecting the Syrian people from the harsh military," he said. "The people are unarmed whereas the regime receives weapons from several" countries.
"The situation is very dangerous. We hope things don't deteriorate further," he added.