Clinton calls Assad speech "chillingly cynical"

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that an Arab League monitoring mission in Syria cannot continue indefinitely and dismissed a recent speech by Syria's president as "chillingly cynical."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON, SAYING:
"Instead of taking responsibility, what we hear from (Syrian) President (Bashar al-) Assad in his chillingly cynical speech yesterday was only making excuses, blaming foreign countries, conspiracies,"
During a news conference with Qatar's Prime Minister, she said that there was a time limit for monitors. In fact the Arab League is now delaying sending more monitors to Syria after this week's attack on an observer team
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON, SAYING:
"The monitoring mission should not continue indefinitely We can not permit President Assad and his regime to have impunity Syrians deserve a peaceful transition ".
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Jabor al Thani said the Arab league report to be issued January 19th will be crucial.
(SOUNDBITE) (English)QATAR'S PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HAMAD BIN JASSIM JABOR AL THANI, SAYING:
"We can not let the situation as it is in Syria to stand , the people killed by their own government I think it is the Arab responsibility but also it is an international responsibility in the end. We hope we solve it in the house of the Arabs but right now the Syrian government is not helping us."
The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began last March.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.