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SANA via EPA, file
Syrian President Bashar Assad is accompanied by his wife Asma while casting his vote during a referendum on a new constitution on Feb. 26 in in Damascus.
The U.S. and U.K. are considering letting Syria’s President Bashar Assad have immunity from prosecution if he agrees to relinquish power, according to reports.
The Guardian newspaper reported that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was aiming to convince former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to host a peace conference to discuss the idea further.
The paper said Yemen President Ali Saleh’s departure from power – in which he was given immunity from prosecution despite the killing of civilians – was seen as a potential model.
The Telegraph newspaper said Assad would be given safe passage to Switzerland to take part in the peace talks under the plan.
The paper said British officials believed it was “worth having a go” with the idea, but added that a well-placed British government source admitted it was a “very optimistic” scenario.
'Transitional process'
The plan was drawn up following bilateral talks between the U.S./U.K. and Russia at the G-20 meeting in Mexico, where the British source said Russian president Vladimir Putin had “indicated that they were not hooked on Assad staying in power indefinitely."
P.J. Crowley, former State Department spokesman, joins Andrea Mitchell Reports to talk about how US and Russia might work together to prevent a civil war in Syria.
“Of course they go on to say that it’s not up to the international community to decide. But those of us who had bilaterals with Putin thought there was just enough out of these meetings to make it worth pursuing the objective of negotiating some sort of transitional process in Syria,” the source added, according to The Telegraph.
The Telegraph said the official was asked if this might involve immunity for Assad. “It is hard to see a negotiated solution in which one of the participants agrees voluntarily to go to the International Criminal Court,” the source replied.
The paper said Western officials hoped the peace talks in Switzerland would take place in “the next few weeks.” The summit would be attended by Assad or other Syrian government officials, opposition figures, U.N. Security Council members, and other countries such as Turkey, Saudia Arabia and possibly Iran.
Former National Security Adviser for President Carter, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, joins Morning Joe to discuss the latest in Egypt, the G20 summit in Mexico, China's relationship with Russia and the impact it could have on the U.S. and Syria.
“The Russians argue that the Iranians should be invited,” the British source said, according to The Telegraph. “As far as we are concerned, the answer is no. We have no illusions: it could capsize just on whether Iran is invited or not, but it is worth a try given the gravity of events.”
Three Russian ships headed for Syria, US says
A U.K. Foreign Office said in an email sent to msnbc.com and other media that the British government was continuing “to do everything we can to bring an end to the violence in Syria.”
“If Assad accepts a political transition then there is a range of options that could be considered, but there is no new offer, and the longer the killing goes on, the fewer options Assad will have,” the statement said.
“The details of any transition need to be agreed, including with the Syrian opposition, and we will continue to collect evidence so there can be no expectation on the part of those killing that they can avoid justice and accountability,” it added.
However, a Foreign Office spokesman told msnbc.com that the U.K. would not be able to intervene if Assad was given a safe haven by another country.
AFP - Getty Images
Damage and destruction litter a street in the battered city of Qusayr, southwest of Homs in western Syria, on Wednesday.
As the diplomats looked for a solution to the crisis, the death toll continued to mount Thursday.
Activists told The Associated Press that two people were killed during the shelling of rebel-held areas in the city of Homs.
PhotoBlog: Syrian army shells Homs and Qusayr
Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, the U.N. assistant secretary-general for political affairs, warned on Tuesday that time was running out for the current U.N.-backed peace process for Syria.
"The Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) remains gravely concerned about the intensification of violence and rising death toll, as well as continued human rights abuses and unmet humanitarian needs," Fernandez-Taranco said, according to Reuters.
UN suspends Syria monitoring due to rising violence
Ban said last month that at least 10,000 people have been killed in the Syria conflict, but U.N. diplomats say the actual number is likely much higher.
"The situation in Homs is particularly alarming," Fernandez-Taranco told the 15-nation Security Council during a discussion on the Middle East, Reuters reported. "The tragic human suffering from the escalating conflict calls for urgent and concerted efforts to avoid a full-scale civil war."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
While it's a good thing to wish for the violence to abate, We should stay the hell out for once.
Quote: "Power corrupts people, and absoluter power corrupts absolutely."
There are a few that do seem to handle it though. George Washington is the best example of how having power did not corrupt. George Washington gave up the power he had as a military man that could have given him dictatorial privileges. Then when president he would not accept even being nominated for a third consecutive term. Sure he had his flaws but being a power monger was not one of them.
Russia wants a port to the ocean, so their only concern is that whomever comes into power will still be their puppet on a string, and that is all they care about.
I would reinforce the offer by sending him a video of the Saddam hanging and give him 24 hours to make up his mind.
Why would we want to give asylum to someone we consider a mass murderer? What's in it for the good old USA? Have we cut a deal with the rebels to install another puppet dictator who takes orders from Washington?
It's a lesser of two evils:
I don't like it any more than the next guy, but it's worth it if it saves lives.
There's people dying here too - If you want to save lives save them here. Put your time and resources into your neighbors' fate.
No argument here Al. The British are in talks with Asad on this one.
Can we do both? We could certainly start in Chicago.
Great idea. Let's make sure that we get as involved as is humanly possible in another big mess in a country that about 1% of our population gives a hoot about and even less could point out on a globe. That will help to take our minds off of our own internal problems which NONE of our leaders can figure out how to fix. Questions about our problems are very tough to respond to because we are experiencing these problems. Questions about some never-never land are easy to answer because you can say anything - which of us can check it out. God protect us all from "Statesmen?".
Why does this seem like a pattern? The changes of Assad actually taking up this offer is less then 1%. Lets offer immunity to someone who killed thousands of innocent people? let him leave the country he put in a @!$%# hole with millions of dollars to live a nice life in the WEST? put him and his wife on a plane and crash it into HELL! The Issue is okay, he does step down... then someone just like him acquires power, so old Hitler out .. new Hitler in? or leave the country in Chaos for a while? perhaps it will end up like Egypt. Solution? DOWN WITH THE WHOLE REGIME. Yup WWIII, time-a-tickinnn.
I meant *chances :)
TEAM AMERICA - WORLD POLICE. Great movie. Here we come to save the #* day. now.
This murdering bastard needs to pay for all those innocent he killed. End of story. No mercy shown, no mercy given. No free ride to paradise as a reward. Death to all tyrants.
Then YOU pick up a gun and go kill him - Don't demand that I pay for your bullets.
What ever happened to the concept of "One Shot One Kill?" Why should this mudering b*stard have the chance to live out his days on monies looted from his countries treasury and not be held accountable for the crimes he's commited against his own people?
Who cares, it's an Arab problem let them deal with it!!!!
Immunity from war crimes, if you don't kill another 20 thousand people we'll let you go. Who are the we that allows one person to mass murder his own people, and try the next guy? Our dictator is a bigger mass murderer than your dictator. Build another battle boat, we really need that.
Good job Obama......why not make room in the White House for ASSad ! Nothing like bowing to Terrorists. Obama is the Anti-Christ.
Is it just me or does others note that Assad looks like @!$%# for brains Walkers brother
In less than one year, all of you who vote for Obama or Romney will be begging to be able to take it back. Ron Paul warned all of you and it fell on deaf ears and dead brains. I'll be laughing and saying we told you so.
well, arent you special
OMG - Ho Chi Minh is killing his own people. We have to do something about it. Result - the Vietnam War.
OMG - Saddam Hussein is killing his own people. We have to do something about it. Result - the Iraq War II.
OMG - Bashar Assad is killing his own people. We have to do something about it. Result - To Be Determined.
I gladly offer this Sacred .60 armor-piercing bullet. It has been specially blessed and am I assured it cannot miss even a brain as small as his.
Since you are kind enough to buy the bullet the least I can do is offer to pull the trigger.
By all means, just be sure to wear your protective gear. After all, Assad stains don't wash out easily.
The 'west'..............
Yes, maybe a nice little fishing hut on one of the western Aleutians with a great view of the Bering Sea.
This kinda sounds like U.N. Executive Priviledge - Me no likely.
The key term with a number of theses issues is PRIVILEDGE.
Your are not priviledged - Generally your lowering yourself to DUCKNCOVER
Here we go negotiating with the enemy- probably offer him immunity to America, living in a castle overlooking the ocean, limousines, book deals, etc.
When our Government do not know how to mind their own economic problems they want to midn other peoples problems. Just they do not have solutions for our problems, they neither have solutions for other people's problem.
Cheer for quality of our leaders!
Nobody cares who's in charge.
As long as the government-controlled central bank is dissolved, and the new Syrian government agrees to play along with the parasitic privatized central banking authorities (World Bank/IMF), the West is happy.
As long as Russia can continue getting access to their only warm-water port AND the only coastline in the Mediterranean that they control, they'll be happy.
As long as China can continue gaining access to natural resources in the area, they'll be happy as well.
Of course, imperialism does not include accommodating the economic interests of other countries....so most likely, nobody's going to be happy.
Hey Assad there is a place in Cuba you can stay, at no charge.Free ankle bracelet and a Bible..What a DEAL.... The TAX PAYER will even throw in a picture of one of our president's to hang on the wall..
I wonder if Switzerland was consulted before they became the home of despotic dictators?
Why would Assad do this? He already has the backing of Russia. He says no - and he's still getting supplies from Russia to crush the uprisings, who at the same time is blocking everything at the UN.
To say this is a token effort is saying too much
Why doesn't the Navy send Super SEAL Obarry in?
Do you mean the Obaminator? He could probably take him out with hot air. WInd bag that he is!
Don't we have a drone with this a holes name on it instead of rewarding him.