Syria's Assad should leave 'as soon as possible': Hollande

French President Francois Hollande wants Syrian President Assad to step down.

Washington: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down at once in order to bring about an end to the country's brutal civil war, French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday during a visit to Washington.

"I cannot give you a date, but it should be as soon as possible," Hollande told reporters in the White House, adding that Assad "cannot be the future of Syria."