Clinton: Russia, China Blocking Progress on Syria 'Intolerable'

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is “intolerable” that Russia and China continue to block a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Syria by backing President Bashar al-Assad.

Secretary Clinton told a Paris meeting of governments supporting Assad opponents that the United Nations should impose economic sanctions against Damascus. Secretary Clinton says it is not enough for the so-called Friends of the Syrian People to support Assad opponents when Russia and China are “holding up progress.” “I ask you to reach out to Russia and China and to not only urge, but demand that they get off the sidelines and begin to support the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” Clinton said. “It is frankly not enough just to come to the Friends of the Syrian People because I will tell you very frankly, I don’t think Russia and China believe they are paying any price at all, nothing at all, for standing up on behalf of the Assad regime.”