Assad ‘in Latakia’ after Damascus attacks
Clashes between Syrian troops and opposition fighters in Damascus continue amid claims from the opposition that President Assad is now in the coastal city of Latakia.
Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard through the night on Wednesday, following the suicide bombing that ripped through a high-level security meeting and killed three of President Assad’s closest advisers, including his brother-in-law, his defence minister and the head of his crisis team.
Rebels claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, saying they had been planning it for two months.
Assad has not made a public appearance since Wednesday’s bombing, but opposition sources and a western diplomat say he’s now commanding the government’s response to the suicide attack from Latakia.
It was not clear whether Assad travelled to the Mediterranean sea resort before or after the attack.
‘Spinning out of control’
“I think the incident makes clear that Assad is losing control,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
The latest violence comes as the UN Security Council prepare to vote on a new resolution on Syria. It was due to vote on the resolution on Wednesday but it was delayed by a day in a last-minute push to get Russia to agree to measures to end the violence.
But talks between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin again failed to reach a consensus on imposing sanctions.
The White House says that Syria is “spinning out of control” after the latest attacks on Damascus.
‘Assad must go’
David Cameron has appealed to Putin to “pass clear and tough messages about sanctions” to encourage the departure of the Assad regime.
“I have a very clear message for President Assad. It is time for him to go.
“It is time for transition in the regime. If there isn’t transition it’s quite clear there’s going to be civil war.”
The new British-crafted Syria resolution threatens non-military sanctions against President Assad’s government if he does not withdraw troops and heavy weapons from populated areas within 10 days.
But it is tied to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict.
China and Russia have so far refused to back a binding resolution threatening sanctions against Syria if it fails to pull back its heavy weapons.
The resolution must be passed to extend the UN’s mandate for its observer mission to stay in the country beyond Friday.