Carr says Assad still main obstacle

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has not seen any intelligence to justify claims that rebels will soon control most of Syria.

Senator Carr, who has just returned from the United States, says President Bashar al-Assad remains the major obstacle to a ceasefire and a negotiated outcome.

“I don’t think there’s strong intelligence that we’ve got – the Americans might have it – that justifies the optimism,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“I’ll get advice on that today from our Washington embassy.”

Senator Carr said the most desirable goals were an end to the shelling and for all parties to hold talks to create an interim governing council followed by free and fair elections.

A road map from the Geneva summit set out a detailed timetable for transition.

“We know what’s got to happen, but we are still short of the ceasefire that would enable that negotiated settlement,” Senator Carr said.

Russia and China needed to back a United Nations Security Council resolution to impose comprehensive sanctions on Syria, he said.

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