US President Barack Obama challenged Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to either embrace the reforms demanded by pro-democracy protesters for several weeks or leave power, DPA reported.
"The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy," Obama said. "President Assad now has a choice: He can lead that transition, or get out of the way."
In a major foreign policy address on the Middle East, Obama called on al-Assad's regime to end the violence against protesters, halt unlawful detentions and introduce a dialogue to begin a democratic transition.
Obama on Wednesday authorized sanctions against al-Assad that freeze any assets under US jurisdiction.
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