Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad must leave office or face being turfed out by force, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said, rejecting Russia's bid to build support for its ally, AFP reports.
Speaking in New York after meeting Saudi Arabia's allies, Jubeir on Tuesday dismissed Russia's call for a coalition to defend Assad against the Islamic State group as a "non-starter."
He warned that other countries would step up support for rebels from Syria's moderate opposition, leaving Assad with no choice but to step down or face what he called the "military option."