US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that Syrian President Bashir al-Assad has "lost legitimacy" for failing to live up to assurances he would introduce reforms, DPA reported.
"From our perspective, he has lost legitimacy," Clinton said after meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. "He has failed to deliver on the promises he's made."
The United States has enacted sanctions on al-Assad for the months-long crackdown on protesters who are demanding reforms and in some cases his resignation.
Clinton accused al-Assad of accepting help from Iran that was used to "repress his own people."
Clinton said the US was investigating to see who was behind the mob attack Monday on the US embassy in Damascus, saying the Syrian government has not taken the necessary steps to protest diplomatic outposts.
"We are not going to be satisfied until the Syrians protect our people, and I'm sure the French feel exactly the same way," Clinton said.
The French embassy was also subjected to an attack by mobs believed to be supporters of al-Assad. The US and French ambassadors angered the Syrian government last week after showing up in the city of Hama to show support for the rights of the demonstrators to protest.