Bali: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called upon Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, a media report said Tuesday.
Yudhoyono made the call during a working visit to Saudi Arabia Monday for the Syrian strongman to leave his post to restore peace and pave the way for a more popular leader, the Jakarta Globe reported.
"It is hoped that there will be a new leader who loves the people of Syria more and who can create peace that is acceptable to all and improve the situation," Yudhoyono`s spokesperson quoted him as saying.
Syria has been engaged in a bloody civil war between various anti-Assad opposition forces and government troops since March 2011. The UN estimates that over 60,000 people have been killed so far.
IANS
