US welcomes OIC decision to suspend Syria membership

The United States welcomed the decision to suspend Syria's membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at end of the two-day summit meeting in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The United States said the decision sends a "strong message" to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. "Today's action underscores the Assad regime's increasing international isolation and the widespread support for the Syrian people and their struggle for a democratic state that represents their aspirations and respects their human rights," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said. At the final statement, participants had agreed on "the need to end immediately the acts of violence in Syria." It also expressed "deep concern at the massacres and inhuman acts suffered by the Syrian people." The OIC "sent a strong message to the Assad regime by suspending Syria's membership in the OIC," Nuland said. "The United States commends the OIC for its action and commitment to a peaceful resolution in Syria," she added.