Obama Calls on Syria's Assad to Step Down After Mass Murder of Civilians

(Newsroom America) -- President Obama on Saturday called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to "step aside" after launching an "unspeakable assault" on the city of Homs, a day after some 400 civilians were killed in clashes with government troops.

"Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own people now. He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately," Obama said.

Reports said 200 people were killed in Homs as a result of overnight shelling by Syrian troops. Two hundred others were killed elsewhere around the country in battles with security forces.

"Yesterday the Syrian government murdered hundreds of Syrian citizens, including women and children, in Homs through shelling and other indiscriminate violence, and Syrian forces continue to prevent hundreds of injured civilians from seeking medical help," said Obama.

"I strongly condemn the Syrian government’s unspeakable assault against the people of Homs and I offer my deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones," he added.

The president said United Nations Security Council "now has an opportunity to stand against the Assad regime’s relentless brutality and to demonstrate that it is a credible advocate for the universal rights that are written into the U.N. Charter."

Diplomats said they were ready to vote in the U.N. Saturday to condemn the Syrian government's actions, over the strong objections of Russia.

Obama, meanwhile, said the U.S. was prepared to work with Syrians "toward building a brighter future" for their country.

"Every government has the responsibility to protect its citizens, and any government that brutalizes and massacres its people does not deserve to govern," Obama said.

"The Syrian regime’s policy of maintaining power by terrorizing its people only indicates its inherent weakness and inevitable collapse," he continued. "Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community."

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