WASHINGTON: The United States Monday welcomed a strengthening of an international drive against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the Arab League and the EU piled on the pressure.
"We're going to continue to consult not only with the Arab League, but also with the EU and our other partners as we move forward in trying to find ways to increase the pressure on Assad," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
He added that "the international community, the US, the EU, the Arab League, individual states like Turkey, (are) taking stronger and stronger stances against what's going on in Syria."
On Saturday, US President Barack Obama praised the "leadership" of the Arab League after the grouping suspended Syria in a move that deepened the Damascus government's isolation.
The League said the suspension will remain in place until Assad implements an Arab deal to end violence against protesters that has left 3,500 dead since mid-March, according to the United Nations.
On Monday Jordan's King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to urge Assad to step down, and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned embattled Middle East leaders that those who cannot meet the demands of their people "will go."
"I think what we're seeing is definitely a strengthening of the consensus against Assad, against what his regime is doing," Toner said.
But asked about any eventual US military intervention, Toner demurred, saying: "We're not there yet."
"What our focus is right now is on trying to increase the economic noose, if you will, around the Assad regime, to choke them off financially so that they feel the effects of this in growing isolation and that they cease the violence," he added.
Toner stressed: "We never take any options off the table, certainly, but, you know, we're going to try to find ways to increase the political and economic isolation on Syria."
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