Clinton: “Asad has lost legitimacy”

For the first time since the beginning of the Syrian protests, Secretary of the State, Hilary Clinton, considers that Bashar al-Asad "has lost his legitimacy." Following attacks carried out by the supporters of the Syrian regime on the American and French embassies, and the home of the U.S. Ambassador in Damascus on Monday, Clinton stated at a news conference: "Assad has lost his legitimacy, and has failed to deliver on his promises." She added: "It is wrong when someone is considered indispensible". The statement called for the closing of the consultative meeting for the ‘national dialogue’ in Damascus, in order that a committee might be formed in order to review the Constitution. Events in Syria escalated on Monday when demonstrators attacked the embassies of the United States and France in Damascus, in protest against a visit by U.S., and French ambassadors to Hama. A consultative forum for the ‘national dialogue’ issued its closing statement, which was preceded by the death of one person, and the wounding of 20 others who were shot at by security forces in Homs. Around 300 Syrian pro-Bashar protestors attacked the embassies in Damascus in response to the visit by U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford, and French Ambassador, Eric Chevalier, to the city of Hama on Thursday and Friday. The demonstrators threw stones at the U.S. embassy building, smashing the glass visitors' entrance. One of the protestors managed to climb the high wall surrounding the embassy, prompting guards to fire tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators. An angry mob also surrounded the French embassy, throwing stones at it. In response, the French embassy guards fired at the demonstrators, while some witnesses reported that security agents beat them. With regards to the Syrian President "losing his legitimacy", Hilary Clinton added: "Asad cannot do without it” adding: “The U.S.is not interested in the survival of his regime." The State Department official has accused Syria of failing to protect the embassy, which suffered material damage, noting that the attack was encouraged by pro-Syrian government television. The U.S. official said: "The State intends to complain about the attack to the Syrian Charge d'affaires. We feel that they failed to protect the embassy, and responded slowly." The French Foreign Ministry condemned the attack which was backed by the authorities, referring to the 30 security guards injured in the assault. The spokesman Bernard Valero stressed that the embassy's security guards only fired three warning shots at the protestors. The second day of the consultative meeting of the national dialogue closed with a statement which comprised of recommendations submitted to al-Asad. Despite all of this, the Syrian army continued its security operation in the region of Jabal al-Zawaya in the province of Adlab (North West) yesterday. A source said: "The army, which was backed by tanks, carried out raids in villages like Frahia and Sarja, and Rami, aiming to make arrests in Kafar Nabel" The arrests took place on the outskirts of Hama, as well as in the coastal city of Banias, where five people were arrested on the charge of taking photographs of the demonstrations. Gunfire was also heard in Homs yesterday. The Syrian Council for Human Rights revealed yesterday that one person was killed, and 20 others were wounded in Homs, when security forces stormed the city the day before yesterday. He noted that the Syrian security forces also launched a campaign of raids and arrests in the southern neighbourhoods of Banias, whereby 25 people were arrested, and many others were beaten.