White House condemns Syrian government

story by the Hill
written by Gautham Nagesh

President Obama released a statement Friday harshly criticizing the Syrian government for its violent response to the ongoing political protests currently underway in the Middle Eastern nation.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of force by the Syrian government against demonstrators. This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now," Obama said in a statement.

At least 72 people reportedly died on Friday, which appears to be the bloodiest day out of five weeks of anti-government protests. More than 280 people are believed to have been killed since the protests began last month.

Obama said President Assad and the Syrian government have refused to be responsive to the public's desire for democracy, choosing instead to cling to power by brutally repressing its citizens and seeking assistance from Iran.

"President Assad and the Syrian authorities have repeatedly rejected their calls and chosen the path of repression," Obama said.

"They have placed their personal interests ahead of the interests of the Syrian people, resorting to the use of force and outrageous human rights abuses to compound the already oppressive security measures in place before these demonstrations erupted."

Obama called Assad's move Friday to repeal the country's decades-old Emergency Law to allow for protests "not serious given the continued violent repression against protesters today." He urged Assad to change course and listen to the will of his people.

"We strongly oppose the Syrian government’s treatment of its citizens and we continue to oppose its continued destabilizing behavior more generally, including support for terrorism and terrorist groups," Obama said.

"The United States will continue to stand up for democracy and the universal rights that all human beings deserve, in Syria and around the world."

The White House has been criticized by some Republicans, notably those looking to challenge the president in 2012, for not doing enough to help the Syrian opposition.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Friday that the U.S. should withdraw its ambassador to Syria and push for the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Syrian government.

"The United States must send a clear and strong signal to the people of Syria that we support their drive towards freedom and getting rid of the Assad regime," he said in a statement.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also said it was “hard to understand” how Obama had deployed the military to Libya but had said “very little” about the escalating violence in Syria.