Sen. Ben Nelson said Wednesday he believes the United States needs to take "a stronger leadership role" in mounting an international effort to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign his office.
Nelson met with U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford in Washington this week after his return from a trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
"While I am not calling for a military intervention," he said, "I am calling for U.S. action. It's time for us to step up our role and work with our allies to pressure al-Assad out of office."
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Syria this week banned Ford, along with more than a dozen other Western ambassadors and envoys, from returning to Syria.
That "sends a strong negative message," Nelson said during a telephone conference call from Washington. "They have closed major avenues of communication."
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When he was in the Mideast, Nelson said, he met with senior military and political officials from both Egypt and Saudi Arabia who told him leaders in the region believe al-Assad has lost the moral authority to continue in office after his violent response to Syrians seeking political reforms.
Nelson visited the region as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.Â
Reach Don Walton at 402-473-7248Â or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
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