Syria Crackdown:Pres. Assad told to step down by World leaders

The leaders of the U.S., UK, France, Germany and the EU have all called for Syria's President Assad to step down over his suppression of protesters.



This marks a significant increase in pressure on Mr. Assad for sending in his army against the protesters.



Meanwhile, UN investigators say the use of violence in Syria "may amount to crimes against humanity".

And, U.S. President Barack Obama said: "the time has come for President Assad to step aside."



Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has told UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon that military operations against protesters have "stopped".



A UN's spokesman, Farhan Haq says Mr. Assad was responding to a demand from Mr. Ban during a phone call that "all military operations and mass arrests must cease immediately."



President Assad is under international pressure to end his violent crackdown.



Activists say more than 20 people were killed on Wednesday alone and nearly 2,000 people are believed to have been killed while thousands have been arrested since the crackdown began in March
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