(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton heated up the diplomatic standoff over Syria today by saying Russia's plan for the UN Security Council is "without teeth." Russia's proposal, approved in Geneva in June, demands a ceasefire and transition of political power in Syria—but President Bashar al-Assad will dismiss it if there are no consequences, Clinton said: "There is no point to passing a resolution with no teeth because we've seen time and time again that Assad will ignore it and keep attacking his own people."
If Moscow and Washington continue to butt heads, she added, the US will "work with like-minded states to support a Syrian opposition" to topple Assad, and "help prepare Syria for a democratic future." The pressure could hardly be rising faster: Syria's latest battles left 160 dead as government air strikes blew a water main in Aleppo and Assad's troops took over rebel areas near Damascus, the BBC reports. Last month, 5,000 people died and 100,000 people fled the ravaged nation.
