US President Barack Obama has denounced world powers that continue to support embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Syria “cannot return to the pre-war status quo”, Obama said at the 70th United Nations General Assembly on Monday afternoon.
The US leader decried Assad as “a tyrant” and “a brutal dictator [who] slaughters tens of thousands of his own people”, adding that peace in Syria is only possible if Assad leaves office.
The Syrian conflict, which began as a peaceful protest in 2011, has led to at least 250,000 deaths, according to the UN. More than half of Syria’s pre-war population of 22.4 million has been internally displaced or fled abroad.
“Assad and his allies cannot simply pacify the broad majority of a population who has been brutalised,” Obama stated. He called for a “managed transition” that removes Assad from the presidency and puts in his place a more democratic system.
Obama's comments underscore the tensions between US and Russia, the latter of which has stepped up its support for the Assad government with an ongoing military build-up in Syria.
Nonetheless, Obama also said that the United States will work with any nation on Syria, including Russia and Iran.