Violence in Syria swells as Biden urges Assad to go

Violence in Syria swells as Biden urges Assad to go

03 December 11 17:26 ET



At least 23 people have been killed in Syria as violence between army defectors and troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad swells, activists said.

The UN estimates 4,000 people have been killed during a crackdown on anti-government protests.

The Arab League gave Syria until Sunday to sign its initiative to end violence.

The continued unrest came as the US Vice President Joe Biden warned that events in Syria threatened to fan the flames of sectarian conflict.

Speaking in Istanbul, he described the situation in Syria as a "brutal repression".

"We stand with Turkey and a growing chorus of nations in calling for President Assad to step aside," he said.

He said he welcomed the UN Human Rights Council's condemnation of the violence, which Syrian authorities blame on armed gangs and foreign meddling.