Washington, May 11 (AFP) The Syrian regime's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests and its lies over plans to reform only serve to bolster the resolve of the protesters, the US State Department said today.
"What's apparent from events of the past weeks is that the Syrian government's repression in towns like Deraa and Banias simply stirs up new violence," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
And it "frankly strengthens the resolve of the Syrian people's demands," Toner added.
The United States had warned on Friday that it would take "additional steps" against Syria if it continues a brutal crackdown on protesters, a week after imposing sanctions on the Arab nation.
Toner said the President Bashar al-Assad regime will have to face reality over its crackdown, saying, "There's no escaping the eventual accountability for these actions.