UK, France, Germany call for Assad to step down

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UK, France, Germany call for Assad to step down
BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- In the wake of a call by U.S. President Barack Obama that embattled Syrian President Bashir al-Assad step down, the governments of France, the U.K., and Germany issued a joint statement early Thursday likewise demanding Assad's resignation. "France, Germany and the United Kingdom reiterate their utter condemnation of this bloody repression of peaceful and courageous demonstrators and the massive violations of human rights which President Assad and his authorities have been committing for months. We are actively supporting further strong EU sanctions against the regime of President Assad," the joint statement read. "Our three countries believe that President Assad, who is resorting to brutal military force against his own people and who is responsible for the situation, has lost all legitimacy and can no longer claim to lead the country. We call on him to face the reality of the complete rejection of his regime by the Syrian people and to step aside in the best interests of Syria and the unity of its people," the statement added.