Ahead of UN general assembly, PM stresses view that Syrian dictator has ‘butchered his own people’ and should be prosecuted for war crimes

David Cameron has indicated that Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, should face international criminal prosecution, despite having dropped his opposition to the dictator staying in power temporarily as part of a transitional government.



On the eve of a UN general assembly meeting, the prime minister emphasised his belief that Assad, who is backed by the Kremlin and Iran, has “butchered his own people” and fomented the rise of Islamic State in lawless areas of the country. He also signalled that he still believed Assad should be prosecuted for war crimes if he is proven to have broken international law by unleashing chemical weapons.

However, Cameron is among the western leaders to have shifted his position from demanding the immediate departure of Assad to accepting he could be allowed to stay on as part of a transitional government – a plan supported by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. ”Conversations about how we bring about transition are important and that’s what we need to see progress on,” Cameron said. Asked how long Assad could remain in post as part of a deal with Russia, he replied: “I’m not going to speculate. But he can’t be part of Syria’s long-term future. That’s very clear.”

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Cameron suggested in 2012 that Assad could be allowed safe passage and immunity if he stepped down, but that was before reports that he had used chemical weapons. Pressed on whether he thought Assad should be prosecuted, the prime minister said: “I think people who break international law should be subject to international law. That certainly hasn’t changed.”

Although Russia became an international pariah subject to economic sanctions after annexing Crimea and entering eastern Ukraine, Putin is attending the general assembly for the first time in 10 years and will meet Barack Obama. He is not expected to meet Cameron in person.

During his flight to New York, Cameron said: “What we have to discuss with Russia, what we have to try to reach agreement about, is that it is in everyone’s interest that this part of the world has stability and governments that represent all its people and it isn’t fomenting terrorism.

“My argument is Russia will suffer as much from Islamist extremist violence as much as anybody. We need to defeat extremism and its causes.”

Russia, which has helped to arm Assad, moved some troops into Syria in recent weeks and has indicated it is prepared to work militarily with the west to fight Islamic State. Cameron tried and failed to get parliamentary approval to bomb Assad with the US in 2013 after intelligence found the regime had used chemical weapons while fighting Islamist extremists and numerous other rebel insurgent groups. Since then, more of the country has fallen into the hands of Islamic State and Cameron is now considering whether to ask parliament for permission to join US airstrikes against the terrorist group in Syria as well as in Iraq.

Asked whether Russia’s decision to send troops to Syria had complicated his push for airstrikes, Cameron said: “I don’t think the position has changed. I’ve always said it’s important Isil is defeated in Syria as in Iraq. We play a role in that [we are] already helping other countries that are doing active work. But really nothing on that front has changed. If we need to go further, we need parliamentary backing.”

Cameron has not gone to parliament to push for airstrikes yet because he is not sure of getting a majority in favour. Both the main parties are split on whether it is a good idea, with dozens of Conservatives likely to side against the prime minister. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader who has been a peace campaigner for decades, is almost certain not to support airstrikes but a number of his shadow cabinet are likely to be in favour if they feel the government has made a proper case.

Cameron will have face-to-face talks with the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, on Tuesday to discuss the strategy for peace in Syria, where Iran is a key ally of Assad. It will be only the second time the two men have met after their historic encounter a year ago.

At the UN summit, Cameron will also be discussing global poverty goals and climate change, as well as having bilateral meetings with other world leaders.