Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                US, Qatar Divided on How to Solve Syrian Crisis

   by VOA News

   Qatar's prime minister and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have
   offered different views on resolving the crisis in Syria, at an
   international meeting in the Gulf.
   Prime Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani says "force and might"
   may be the only way to resolve the crisis.
   Kerry says the U.S. will step up assistance to Syrian rebels, but that
   U.S. authorities believe the best way to resolve the conflict is
   through negotiations.
   The two men were speaking Saturday in Doha at a meeting of members of
   the "Friends of Syria" group, which backs the Syrian rebels.
   The U.S. and Britain have been pushing for direct talks in Geneva
   between Syria's government and its opponents in the hope of ending the
   civil war, which has already killed tens of thousands of people.
   The European Union and many Arab states, including Egypt, also support
   a negotiated settlement in Syria.
   Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke out against the
   reputed U.S. plan to push for a no-fly zone over Syria. Kremlin leader
   Vladimir Putin also criticized the U.S. plan to arm rebel groups.
   President Putin spoke during a joint appearance with German Chancellor
   Angela Merkel.
   "We are concerned about the possible appearance of a political  vacuum
   in Syria if there is a decision to change the government in Damascus,"
   said Putin. "I am saying this as frankly as I did during our recent G8
   discussions in Britain. The Chancellor [Merkel] knows this and can
   confirm that I used the same words then. If Assad goes today, a
   political vacuum emerges, and who will fill it? Perhaps terrorists.''
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-qatar-divided-on-how-to-solve-syri
   an-crisis/1687159.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-qatar-divided-on-how-to-solve-syrian-crisis/1687159.html