London, Paris Urge Moscow to Stop Backing Assad

Britain and France Wednesday said there could be no political transition in Syria with President Bashar Assad and urged Russia to stop backing its traditional ally.

The comments by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius came after world powers agreed in Geneva on Saturday on a plan for transition in Syria.

Although it did not make an explicit call for Assad to quit, the West said the plan made clear there was no role for him in a unity government.

"Russia must understand that the situation in Syria is heading towards collapse," Hague said at a joint news conference in Paris with Fabius.

"Even if President Assad had a free hand in committing as many crimes, he will not be able to control the situation in Syria," Hague said.

"There is no point in anyone standing by the Assad regime, this is a failed and doomed regime."

Fabius underscored that "our Russian colleagues must understand that by backing a condemned regime... they risk losing the influence they have in this part of the world."

"We are working towards extending sanctions," Fabius said. "We know that we must extend all possible pressure on the bloody regime of Bashar al-Assad."

Their comments came ahead of a third "Friends of Syria" meeting to be held in Paris on Friday that aims to coordinate Western and Arab efforts to stop 16 months of deadly violence.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday accused some in the West of starting "to distort the agreements that were reached" in Geneva by saying that it left no future role for Assad.

But Hague insisted there was no place for the embattled leader in a transition and that the Geneva accord made that clear to all.

"I think we achieved a step forward... worth having which was the joint statement with Russia and China about the need for a transitional government in Syria which will include members of the opposition and other groups and crucially a government will be formed by mutual consent.

"Now that's a very important phrase and I think its clear to everyone that consent of the opposition will not be forthcoming for President Assad to be part of such a government so it is significant," he said.

Hague said if the Geneva accord was not implemented soon "then it will be necessary for the UK, France and other countries to come back to the Security Council and seek stronger resolutions."

More than 16,500 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising against Assad broke out in March last year, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, although the figures cannot be verified.