Syria conflict: UN assembly highlights divisions
Divisions among world leaders on ending the war in Syria have been laid bare at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The US and France insisted Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must go, but Russia said it would be an "enormous mistake" not to work with him to tackle Islamic State (IS) militants.
United Nations General Assembly hall in New York City, USA
In his speech to the UNGA on Monday 28 September, Barack Obama said compromise among powers would be essential to ending the Syrian conflict. Said the American President,
"Lasting stability can only take hold when the people of Syria forge an agreement to live together peacefully. The US is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict."
United States President Barack Obama meets with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at his dacha outside Moscow, Russia on 7 July 2009
On the other hand, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s point of view is that:
“It was an enormous mistake to refuse to co-operate with the Syrian government and its armed forces who are valiantly fighting terrorism face-to-face.”
Putin taking the presidential oath at his 3rd inauguration ceremony, 7 May 2012
The US and Russian leaders have long differed on Syria: the US opposes President Bashar al-Assad remaining in power, while Russia has been a staunch ally, and has recently stepped up military support.
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The president of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar Al-Assad
Meanwhile, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, a key Syrian ally, said his country was prepared to help in "paving the way for democracy" in Syria. But French President Francois Hollande said that, while he was prepared to work with Iran and Russia, "the route to a solution does not go through Bashar al-Assad".
Bombed out vehicles in war-torn Syria
There may be a glimmer of hope for the Syrian conflict though. After a face-to-face meeting between the US and Russian leaders, Mr. Putin said Russia might be willing to join air strikes against IS, if the strikes were backed by the United Nations. However he ruled out Russian troops ever taking part in a ground operation in Syria.
Syria's civil war
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and one million injured in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS. Growing numbers of refugees are fleeing to Europe.
Aerial view of the Za'atri camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan
Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France.
(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
