On April 27, 2011, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice delivered remarks to a UN Security Council briefing on Syria. Ambassador Rice said:

“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the abhorrent violence used by the government of Syria against its own people. My government calls on President Assad to change course now and heed the calls of his own people. We also call upon the international community to respond to this brutal crackdown, and to hold accountable those who are perpetrating these gross human rights violations. The United States has expressed its position to the Syrian government, and we are considering a range of options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the outrageous and ongoing use of violence against peaceful protesters.

“We are particularly concerned about continued reports of gratuitous violence… more »