With world pressure mounting and internal violence growing in Syria over President Bashar al-Assad’s ongoing brutal crackdown on the opposition in the country, Tunisia has offered the embattled leader asylum as part of a deal to halt the bloodshed. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki told local French-language publication La Presse that his country was willing to host Assad and his family.
La Presse noted the Tunisian leader previously suggested Russia give Assad asylum, which the Russians essentially dismissed.
The Arab Spring protests have led to varied final results with national leaders. The negotiation route has been used in Yemen and President Ali Abdullah Saleh as an effort to end the violence in that country. However, former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was murdered by opposition forces and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is currently being tried following his ouster.
Assad’s regime has so far killed thousands of Syrians in an effort to crush the protests opposing his rule. Numerous countries have imposed sanctions on Syria in an effort to convince Assad to halt the violence and step down. The Arab League has developed a political transition plan to end the conflict as well.
(By Staff, www.themideastupdate.com, February 28, 2012)