Arab League Offers Bashar al-Assad 'Safe Exit' from Syria

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Arab League has offered President Bashar al-Assad a "safe exit" from Syria as rebels claimed the opposition was "at the gates of victory".

Nabil Elaraby, the Arab League's secretary general, called on Mr Assad to resign immediately, and offered his family safe passage out of Syria.

However, he gave no further details on his proposal at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Monday morning.

The League also promised $100 million (£64 million) for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.

Tunisian President President Moncef Marzouki also offered Assad asylum in February if it would end the conflict.

Assad has shown little inclination to step down. On Sunday, his forces attacked remaining rebel pockets of resistance in the capital Damascus. » | Barney Henderson | Monday, July 23, 2012

Assad May Be Offered Clemency by Britain and US If He Joins Peace Talks
THE GUARDIAN: Initiative comes after Cameron and Obama received encouragement from Putin during G20 talks in Mexico

Britain and America are willing to offer the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, safe passage – and even clemency – as part of a diplomatic push to convene a UN-sponsored conference in Geneva on political transition in Syria.

The initiative comes after David Cameron and Barack Obama received encouragement from Russia's President Vladimir Putin in separate bilateral talks at the G20 in Mexico.

A senior British official said: "Those of us who had bilaterals thought there was just enough out of those meetings to make it worth pursuing the objective of negotiating a transitional process in Syria."

With daily reports of civilian deaths and the conflict apparently taking on an increasingly sectarian hue, Britain is willing to discuss giving clemency to Assad if it would allow a transitional conference to be launched. He could even be offered safe passage to attend the conference. » | Patrick Wintour, political editor | Thursday, June 21, 2012