Panetta, King Abdullah discuss Syria
(08-02 20:09)
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Jordan's King Abdullah II discussed the question of a political transition in “a post-Bashar al-Assad Syria,'' Pentagon spokesman George Little said.
“They talked not only about how to deal with the current crisis that is being fuelled by the intolerable acts of the regime, but also the prospects for political transition in a post-Bashar al-Assad Syria,'' Little told reporters. “They agreed that strong international pressure needs to be sustained to make it clear that Assad must go, and that the Syrian people deserve to determine their own future.''
AFP reports that Panetta pledged that “the United States will work with Jordan to explore ways to continue to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by violence in Syria,'' Little said. Panetta was in Jordan on the last leg of a regional tour of Tunisia, Egypt and Israel. “Both of our nations share concerns about what is happening in Syria and the impact that that could have on regional stability,'' Panetta said before arriving in Amman. “We are working very closely with them (the Jordanians) along with a lot of international and non-governmental partners, to provide humanitarian assistance to support those that have been affected by violence in Syria.''
Jordan, which is currently hosting more than 145,000 Syrians, on Sunday opened a refugee camp with the aim of helping those have fled the escalating violence across its northern border. The Zaatari camp in Mafraq can take up to 120,000 people.
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