By IANS,
Bali: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called upon Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, a media report said Tuesday.
Yudhoyono made the call during a working visit to Saudi Arabia Monday for the Syrian strongman to leave his post to restore peace and pave the way for a more popular leader, the Jakarta Globe reported.
“It is hoped that there will be a new leader who loves the people of Syria more and who can create peace that is acceptable to all and improve the situation,” Yudhoyono’s spokesperson quoted him as saying.
Syria has been engaged in a bloody civil war between various anti-Assad opposition forces and government troops since March 2011. The UN estimates that over 60,000 people have been killed so far.