And Mister Obama strongly condemned Syria's president,Bashar al-Assad.

VOA: special.2011.05.21

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is offering to mediate between the West and Iran and diplomatic initiative that could further help in Syria's own rapprochement with the U.S.and Europe.

VOA: standard.2009.03.18

"When you consider the situation of Bashar al-Assad, he himself is hunted down by a tribunal, now sitting in the Hague, investigating the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

VOA: standard.2009.03.18

Coming up, President Obama said it again today: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must go.

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"I believe the destiny of Bashar al-Assad should be decided by the Syrians themselves, " he said.

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The presence of Syrian troops showed Iraqi leaders' "firm co-operation" with President Bashar al-Assad, it added.

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