Western diplomats admit there's no clear mechanism for toppling Assad regime in Syria'

Damascus, Mar 8(ANI): Syria President Bashar al-Assad can survive for some time as the West does not have a "clear mechanism" for toppling his regime, senior Western diplomats have said.

Diplomatic sources admitted that there is no imminent prospect of the downfall of the Assad regime, though Europe, the United States and most of the Arab world have stepped up pressure on the regime.

"There are various scenarios for change, but there isn't a clear mechanism right now for achieving that," The Telegraph quoted a diplomatic source, as saying.

US President Barack Obama said that Assad's overthrow was a question of "when, not if", but diplomats said the regime is still convinced that it can defeat the opposition.

Assad has benefited from Russia's and China's diplomatic support and the direct supply of weapons, cash, expertise and military advice from Iran.

The United Nations Security Council has so far failed to pass a resolution on Syria after Russia and China vetoed an earlier draft that would have called on Assad to stand down.

British Ambassador to Syria, Simon Collis said he could not rule out the prospect of Assad surviving the revolt.

"I can't say that is impossible from an analytical point of view. I certainly don't think it's likely and certainly not desirable," he added.

A Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Toby Dodge, a Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that Syria's insurgents could not defeat Assad's forces.

The cautious assessments came as UN under-secretary for humanitarian affairs, Baroness Amos, was taken on a 45-minute tour of Baba Amr.

The Syrian regime has also allowed aid workers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to distribute food and medical supplies in the area for the first time since it fell to the army last week. (ANI)