WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama hailed the demise of Libya's Moamer Qadhafi and warned Syria's Bashar al-Assad his regime's days were numbered Tuesday as he vowed enduring US support for the ideals of the Arab Spring.
"As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from Sanaa to Tripoli," Obama said in his annual State of the Union address in Congress.
"A year ago, Qadhafi was one of the world's longest-serving dictators -- a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone.
"And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can’t be reversed, and that human dignity can’t be denied."
While noting it was unclear how events in the Middle East and North Africa would unfold, Obama said he would continue to "stand against violence and intimidation" and support democratic ideals.
"How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome," he said.
"We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty."
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