Prime Minister Stephen Harper called for Syrian President Bashar Assad to resign on Thursday, joining U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders in demanding Assad end a series of military attacks against his own people.
"Canada reiterates its strong condemnation of the ongoing violent military assault by the Assad regime against the Syrian people. This campaign of terror must stop," Harper said in a statement.
"The Assad regime has lost all legitimacy by killing its own people to stay in power."
Hundreds of Syrians have been killed since the start of August as Assad's regime unleashed tanks, ground troops and snipers against those protesting against the country's governing regime.
U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders have also called for Assad to step down and spare his people from the brutal repression they experience under his regime.
In a stinging written statement released Thursday, Obama said Assad has overseen an assault on Syrian people as they protest for freedom. Obama said the Syrian people will decide their country's future once Assad no longer stands in the way.
"For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside," Obama said in a statement. "The Syrian government has insisted the crackdown is targeting terrorists attempting to create unrest and has lashed out at the international community for interfering."
The U.S. and Canada also said on Thursday that they have imposed diplomatic sanctions against Syria until Assad vacated his position.
"Canada has taken decisive action imposing sanctions that directly target members of the current Syrian regime and those who provide it with support," Harper said.
"Canada stands with the Syrian people in their efforts to secure freedom and democracy, and looks forward to a new Syria that respects the rights of all of its people and lives in peace with its neighbours."
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