LONDON: The European Union, Russia, Greece, Germany and France on Saturday joined the United States in condemning Syria's bloody crackdown against protesters calling for political freedoms and an end to corruption.
Tens of thousands of Syrians demanded the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday at funerals for scores of demonstrators killed by security forces.
Rights activists say the death toll has climbed to over 300 since the unrest started on March 18 in the city of Deraa.
Here are some comments from political leaders condemning the violence:
UNITED STATES:
US President Barack Obama told Syria its crackdown on protesters "must come to an end now" and dismissed as "not serious" Assad's lifting of a decades-old emergency law in Syria this week and accused him of seeking help from Iran.
"This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now," Obama said.
"Instead of listening to their own people, President Assad is blaming outsiders while seeking Iranian assistance in repressing Syria's citizens through the same brutal tactics that have been used by his Iranian allies."
EUROPEAN UNION:
President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, urged the Syrian government to stop the "bloodshed" and respond to the demands of the demonstrators.
He called on the country to release "all prisoners of conscience", end media censorship and brings those responsible for torture and abuse to justice.
"The Syrian regime must at last acknowledge the signs of the times and meet the legitimate aspirations of its own people. Mere declarations will not delude the people any more," he said.
"People have expressed their demands in all clarity.
Any form of violence against peaceful demonstrators must stop: No more killing, no more torture and no more arbitrary arrests.
An independent investigation into the deaths of protesters has to be carried out."
RUSSIA:
Russia called on the Syrian leadership to speed up "large-scale political reforms" and refrain from violence amid deadly clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters in escalating unrest in the Arab state.
"The government and all non-government and religious forces in Syria must rule out violence and continue to search for a fair resolution to the brewing problems," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Only constructive dialogue, the speeding up of large-scale political reforms by the Syrian leadership and socio-economic change can guarantee the stable and democratic development of the country."
GERMANY:
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said violence against the demonstrators was unacceptable and the killings should be investigated and those responsible bought to justice.
"It is time for the Syrian government to accommodate the democracy movement and finally react to the urgent appeals of the international community," Westerwelle said in a statement.
"The use of violence against peaceful demonstrators must cease immediately and the civil liberties of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be guaranteed."
FRANCE:
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned the "extreme violence" of Syrian security forces and called for those responsible for the deaths of scores of protestors on Friday to be made responsible for their actions.
"We call on Syrian authorities to immediately renounce the use of violence and to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens," said Juppe.
"Only an inclusive political dialogue responding to the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people can preserve the country's stability, which is in everyone's interest."
"This brutal and indiscriminate repression contradicts the lifting of the state of emergency," he said.
GREECE:
Greece's Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said his government was greatly concerned about reports of violent repression by Syrian authorities, and called on the country to implement reforms.
"The right for peaceful assembly and the free expression of views are a basic element of democracy and must be respected," said.
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