Arab nations offer Assad asylum

Some Arab leaders have told the United States they are willing to provide safe haven to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to hasten his “inevitable” departure from power.

Assistant secretary of state Jeffrey Feltman did not identify the countries, but said: “Almost all the Arab leaders, foreign ministers who I talk to say the same thing: Assad’s rule is coming to an end. It is inevitable.”

“Some of these Arabs have even begun to offer Assad safe haven to encourage him to leave quickly,” Mr Feltman said. He hoped Mr Assad and his inner circle would “head for the exits voluntarily.”

At least 25 people were killed yesterday, including 14 civilians shot in a military crackdown on protesters calling for an to to Mr Assad’s rule.