US condemns Syrian crackdown

With the Syrian government increasing a crackdown on protestors, the Obama administration is ratcheting up its rhetoric against the violent response.

At least 30 anti-government protesters were killed across Syria on Friday, according to media reports, and on Saturday government troops backed by tanks moved into Baniyas, which had seen some on the largest demonstrations.

{mosads}”We strongly condemn and deplore the Syrian government’s use of violence and mass arrests in response to ongoing demonstrations,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in statement Friday evening. “We again salute the courage of Syrian protestors for insisting on their right to express themselves and we regret the loss of life on all sides.”

The European Union agreed to issue sanctions Friday against Syrian government officials, although not the country’s president Bashar al-Assad.

The White House, which on April 29 announced economic sanctions against some in the Syrian regime, welcomed the EU’s decision, and said the violence warranted “a strong international response.”

“Absent significant change in the Syrian government’s current approach, including an end to the government’s killing of protestors and to the arrest and harassment campaigns of protestors and activists, coupled with a genuine political reform process responsive to the demands of the Syrian people, the United States and its international partners will take additional steps to make clear our strong opposition to the Syrian government’s treatment of its people,” Carney’s statement read.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued a statement Friday saying she was deeply troubled by the violence of the Syrian government and leaving open the possibility of further action.

“We welcome the European Union’s decision to join us in these efforts with similar steps,” Clinton said. “We will also continue to work both unilaterally and with our international partners to determine the most effective next steps if the Syrian Government chooses not to abandon its current path.”

Some members of Congress have pushed for further U.S. action in Syria. On Thursday Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Assad, the Syrian president, must be forced out.

“It is also critical that we impose sanctions on Bashar al Assad himself,” Lieberman said on the Senate floor. “He is the head of the regime that is systematically carrying out large-scale human rights abuses. It requires a willing suspension of disbelief to think that the order to use military force against the Syrian people did not originate with Bashar. He must be held accountable.”