CAIRO: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains defiantly in power, even as the United States and Europe call for his removal from power as violence continues in the country. According to activists on the ground, at least 35 people were killed on Friday, less than 24 hours after the Syrian president told the United Nations that military action against protesters calling for Assad's ousting had ceased. The government rejected the US and European calls for a regime change, saying in a state-run editorial that they had revealed “the face of the conspiracy” in reference to foreign powers targeting Damascus over its role in the region. Still, it has left many activists worried that the violence, which has been heightened since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, will continue. “This massacre seems like it will continue and the government doesn't appear willing to heed the demands of the people,” said Omar, a protester from Homs, who spoke to Bikyamasr.com via a satellite phone. “More death will come if greater action is not taken.” Despite the international community's calls for Assad's removal, Russia remained obstinate, saying the president deserves “more time to implement reforms.” Activists say this will only result in more deaths. “We do not support such calls, and we think that President al-Assad should be given time today to implement all of the declared reform processes,” a Russian Foreign Ministry official told the nation's Interfax news agency. The US government has previously said Assad had “lost legitimacy,” but resisted calling explicitly for his ouster until now. “The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way,” President Barack Obama said in a statement Thursday. “We have consistently said that President Assad must lead a democratic transition or get out of the way. He has not led. For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.” The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union have echoed Obama's demand. The Russian statements on Friday seem to be a reversal from earlier government statements by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in June when he condemned the crackdown on civilians and pressured Damascus to end the violence. The Russian Foreign Ministry official, according to Interfax, said “what counts most is al-Assad's statement yesterday that they are stopping all military operations.” During a telephone call with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, al-Assad said military operations in the country had been halted. Activists in the country, however, have refuted such claims, saying tanks and military action continues on Friday. Since Syrians took to the streets on March 15, government military action against the protesters has resulted in over 2,000 people being killed and thousands more injured. BM
