Clinton: No Intervention in Syria

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States has no intention of intervening in Syria the way it had against Libyan’s strongman Col. Muamar Al-Qaddafi. Clinton said there was popular bi-partisan belief in Congress that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was “a reformer.” Al-Assad was expected on Tuesday to address his nation which has been torn by growing protests and increasingly brutal repressions. Analysts report the 45-year-old president who inherited his rule a decade ago would announce he was lifting a nearly half century-long state of emergency, and ease civil liberties. Security forces have killed dozens since protests were sparked over a week ago. But Assad was bolstered Monday by two leaders. Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had telephoned the Syrian leader to urge him to work on reforms. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called his Syrian counterpart his “brother” and a “humanist.” (Chavez has also come to the defense of Qaddafi)