U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that Syria'sopposition forces are growing more effective and the sooner the
violence ends, the higher the chances of sparing the Syrian government
from a "catastrophic assault," Reuters reports.
It appeared clear that Clinton was referring to the possibility of
Syrian rebels launching such an assault on state institutions - a
court and a broadcaster have been recent targets - rather than to any
outside intervention.
"The sooner there can be an end to the violence and the beginning of a
political transition process, not only will fewer people die, but
there is a chance to save the Syrian state from a catastrophic assault
that would be very dangerous not only to Syria but to the region,"
Clinton said at a news conference.
Clinton was speaking in Tokyo after a meeting with Japanese Foreign
Minister Koichiro Gemba. The two were meeting on the sidelines of an
international conference on aid to Afghanistan.
"There is no doubt that the opposition is getting more effective in
their defence of themselves and in going on the offensive against the
Syrian military and the Syrian government's militias. So, the future
.... should be abundantly clear to those who support the Assadregime," Clinton added.
"The sand is running out of the hour glass."
