"The legitimacy is, if not gone, nearly run out,"

(Reuters) - "...While noting the United States and its European allies have imposed sanctions on Syria since the uprising three months ago, Clinton hinted at the reluctance of other U.N. Security Council members, notably China and Russia, to take action.
"Right now, the attitude of the international community is not as united as we are seeking to make it. We do not yet have the agreement by some of the other members of the Security Council ... Those who we are seeking to bring to our view of the situation I think will have to make their own judgment, but we think they will be better off on the right side of history,... The international community has to continue to make its strongest possible case and call for specific actions like -- not just an announcement of an amnesty -- but a release of political prisoners, the end to unjust detentions, allow human rights monitors into the country," she said.
Clinton suggested U.S. patience with Assad is exhausted but stopped short of explicitly calling for him to step down. "The legitimacy that is necessary for anyone to expect change to occur under this current government is, if not gone, nearly run out," Clinton told reporters at a news conference..."