Fabius: Syrian plan for elections is an absurdity

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday derided "the Syrian regime and its leader Bashar Al-Assad" for planning presidential elections in that war-torn country for June 3, saying the conditions in Syria were totally against the holding of any credible ballot. "Bashar Al-Assad, the absolute tyrant - 150,000 dead - and this person, in a tragic parody, has the nerve to present a phantom election that is to take place in June," Fabius commented ironically. "There is no question for an instant of supporting Bashar Al-Assad," Fabius affirmed. But he drew a complex picture of the current state-of-play in Syria and the forces that are deployed in this conflict. He said that France could not support "terrorist groups" that are fighting Al-Assad, especially in view of what they have done to hostages, including the four French journalists released three days ago. "If we want neither Bashar Al-Assad nor the terrorists, what remains in the 'moderate' opposition and this 'moderate' opposition is supported by around a hundred countries, among them us," the Minister noted. Admitting that 500 people had left France to fight the Syrian regime, Fabius said there was "no justification" for lending a hand to terrorist organisations which are guilty of brutality, including "torture" and "assassinations". Fabius said that "there has to be a political solution and we have said this from the start." While he did not see Al-Assad leaving now, he said his departure was "desirable." "Unfortunately, and we have to say it as it is, Bashar Al-Assad has the support of the Iranians, the Russians and Hezbollah," he indicated, warning of the "dramatic consequences" the conflict is having on Syria and the countries of the region - Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. The solution is "political," he repeated, but "the countries involved must accept the political solution." Source: KUNA