Middle East News

Clinton warns civil war possible in Syria

Nov 18, 2011, 23:39 GMT

Washington - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Friday that the violence in Syria has the potential to escalate into a civil war, but stressed the US has no intention to intervene militarily.

'I think there could be a civil war with a very determined and well-armed and eventually well-financed opposition that is, if not directed by, certainly influenced by defectors from the (Syrian) army,' Clinton said in an interview with NBC News from Bali, where she is attending the East Asia Summit with President Barack Obama.

Clinton said the United States hopes the opposition remains peaceful, and stressed that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime 'has provoked people into taking up arms against them.'

She ruled out military action like that taken by a NATO-led coalition in Libya.

'There is no appetite for that kind of action vis-a-vis Syria. Libya was a unique situation,' she said.

'Syria has its own kind of rhythm, and what the Arab League has done is an unmistakable signal to Asad that 'You're done.''

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