Western and Arab countries are upping pressure on Iran and Syria a day before the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
Western and Arab countries are upping pressure on Iran and Syria a day before the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
The US, France and Qatar led the charge as the West and its allies attempted to win support for tougher actions against the two countries that represent the axis of resistance.
Starting by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he dubbed the Syria conflict "a regional calamity with global ramifications" and said: "The international community should not look the other way as violence spirals out of control."
"We must stop the violence and flow of arms to both sides and set in motion a Syrian-led transition as soon as possible," Ban added.
SUPPORTING MILITANTS IN SYRIA
US President Barack Obama went further, declaring: "The regime of President Bashar al-Assad must come to an end so the suffering of the Syrian people can stop, and a new dawn can begin."
Meanwhile, a US State Department official told AFP that the United States will soon announce an increase in its aid to the Syrian rebels, but would still stop short of sending weapons and ammunition.
For his part, French President Francois Hollande urged the United Nations to declare “protected areas” in the regions which were controlled by Syria armed groups, calling these areas as "liberated zones" so that humanitarian aid could reach refugees.
On the other hand, the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a key supporter of the Syrian opposition, called for an Arab military intervention.
"It is better for Arab countries themselves to intervene out of their humanitarian, political and military duties and do what is necessary to stop the bloodshed," he told the General Assembly.
PLAN “B”, WITH NO-FLY ZONE
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told CNN that there was a “Plan B” for Syria, but he hinted that this plan could require a no-fly zone.
“We believe that we can solve [the Syrian issue] peacefully,” the premier, currently in New York for The GA meeting, said on Monday and added that Arab countries were working on a plan of their own.
“You need to make safe haven areas, first of all,” he said but added that this would require a no-fly zone.
“If the Syrians want to break that, that's another subject. We need somebody to have the teeth to tell them ‘don't do that’, because that will not be allowed.”
“I believe there are a lot of Arab countries who will participate [in this plan]. And there are also European countries who will participate.”
NUCLEAR ARMED IRAN ‘MISTAKE’
Meanwhile, on Iran’s nuclear program, Obama vowed to keep Tehran from getting its hands on nuclear weapons.
"Make no mistake. A nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained. It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy," Obama warned.
"That is why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable. And that is why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," he declared.
Hollande accused Iran of supplying weapons and militants to Syria to prop up President Assad’s regime, dubbing this "unacceptable."
