Assad May Be Offered Clemency

The United States and the U.K. are reportedly considering an offer that would give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clemency as part of a diplomatic push for peace to be pushed in his war-torn country. The proposed initiative—which has not been signed off on—comes after President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron received encouragement at the G20 Summit from Russian President Vladimir Putin that al-Assad would be willing to accept such an offer. Britain reportedly is willing to discuss giving clemency to al-Assad if it would allow a transitional conference to be launched in Geneva. The gathering, which would be sponsored by the United Nations, would focus on a peaceful transition of power in Syria.