'No we are not working to undermine Bashar al Assad!'

(Reuters) - The United States is not working to undermine the Syrian government but "Trying to promote a transformation to a more democratic process in this society is not undermining necessarily the existing government," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "needs to address the legitimate aspirations of his people," he said.

"No we are not working to undermine that government," Toner said in response to a question at a media briefing, adding the U.S. government was working to promote democratic processes in Syria and elsewhere in the world. "The Syrian government perceives this kind of assistance as a threat," he said. The diplomatic cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million since 2006 to a group of Syrian exiles to operate a London-based satellite channel, Barada TV, and finance activities inside Syria, the Post said.