King
Abdullah of Jordan asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to
immediately withdraw from their positions for the interests of the
people. Abdullah became the first Arab leader to ask Assad to step down after Syria suspended its membership in the Arab League.
"I believe, I will resign if I was in the position of Bashar al-Assad," said King Abdullah was quoted as saying the page Aljazeera, Tuesday, November 15, 2011. "If I were in his position, I will resign and make sure whoever replaces me has the ability to turn the situation into which we want."
So far, Jordan is known as the most critical of the upheaval that occurred in Syria. According to Abdullah, Al-Assad must hold a political dialogue as an entrance opening of a new era before he resigned.
"I think the systems in Syria did not allow for this to happen. So if Bashar does care about his country, he would only resign but also creates a new phase of political life in Syria," added King Abdullah.
King Abdullah's comments are somewhat surprising, although the past few months the Jordanian and Syrian relations are less harmonious. Director of the Center for Middle East at the London School of Economics, Fawaz Gerges, said Abdullah's comments suggest the existence of agreements Arab countries that Assad should resign.
"The words of King Abdullah's very surprising to many people. It is revealed about the extent of divisions between Arab countries and the Arab League itself. It seems that the Arab countries themselves have agreed that President al-Assad should resign," he said.
Syrians protest Assad government has been going on since March. According to a UN report last week, quoted by the BBC, has more than 3,500 people were killed in clashes between government forces and the people. The UN says most victims are civilians who were victims of brute force of government troops.
 |
| King of Jordan |
It is also likely to make 18 of the 22 Arab League member states decided to suspend the membership of Syria. The Arab League is also devising sanctions to Syria if the violence continues.