West pushes for Assad's departure

The US has closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria – now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.

Although the diplomatic effort was blocked at the UN by vetoes from Russia and China, the moves by the US and Britain were a clear message that Western powers see no point in engaging with Mr Assad and now will seek to bolster Syria’s opposition.