Hague: Assad speech 'beyond hypocritical'

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s speech claiming he is ready with a new peace initiative was denounced by British Foreign Secretary William Hague today as “beyond hypocritical”.

Hague: Assad speech 'beyond hypocritical'

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s speech claiming he is ready with a new peace initiative was denounced by British Foreign Secretary William Hague today as “beyond hypocritical”.

Mr Hague attacked the leader’s rare television address as full of “empty promises” that would “fool no-one”.

In his first speech to the nation since June, President Assad said the peace plan includes a national reconciliation conference and a new constitution but claimed it could only get under way after Western nations stopped funding and arming rebel groups.

He said: “We never rejected a political solution… but with whom should we talk? With those who have extremist ideology who only understand the language of terrorism?”

“Or should we with negotiate puppets whom the West brought… We negotiate with the master not with the slave.”

More than 60,000 Syrians have been killed since the uprising began in March 2011, according to UN estimates.

Mr Hague took to Twitter to vent his anger about the speech, writing: “#AssadSpeech beyond hypocritical. Deaths, violence and oppression engulfing #Syria are his own making, empty promises of reform fool no one.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron earlier reiterated his calls for the Syrian leader to go.

“My message to Assad is go,” he told BBC 1’s 'Andrew Marr Show'. “He has the most phenomenal amount of blood on his hands.”

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair
China ends tariffs on Australian wine as relations between countries thaw China ends tariffs on Australian wine as relations between countries thaw
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited