Obama, Cameron warn “undemocratic” Arab regimes

May 24, 2011

Obama, Cameron warn " undemocratic " Arab regimes

LONDON, May 24, 2011

United States President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Cameron on

Tuesday warned Arab leaders they would not hesitate " to use force " if

pro-democracy movements in the region were sought to be " crushed in a hail of

bombs, bullets and mortar fire " .

The warning came as President Obama started a three-day state visit to Britain

amid reports of violent repression of pro-democracy campaigners in Syria,

Bahrain and Yemen.

" We will not stand by... We are reluctant to use force, but when our interests

and values come together, we know we have a responsibility to act... We will

stand with those who want to bring light into dark, support those who seek

freedom in place of repression, aid those laying the building blocks of

democracy, " they said in a joint article in The Times.

Mr. Obama and his wife were given a ceremonial welcome and received by

the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, where the couple will

stay. The President had a brief meeting with Mr. Cameron ahead of substantive

talks scheduled for tomorrow [Wednesday] when he will also address a joint

session of Parliament.

The talks are expected to focus on the events in Libya against the backdrop of

concern in European capitals that Americans are not fully engaged in the

NATO-led military operation against the Qadhafi regime. The view in Washington,

on the other hand, is that it is Europe that needs to contribute more to the

NATO effort.

Other issues likely to dominate the discussions include the fight against

terrorism; the developments in West Asia, especially in the context of stalled

peace Palestinian peace process and the " Arab Spring " ; and the situation in

Afghanistan as both countries prepare for an early end to their decade-long

military involvement in that country.

Ahead of the talks, both leaders emphasised the strength of Anglo-U.S. relations

saying: " Ours is not just a special relationship; it is an essential

relationship — for us and for the world. "

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