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STATE DEPARTMENTU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travels to London Wednesday for a meeting of foreign ministers from nations backing opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Those countries are boosting their support for the rebellion in the absence of talks on a transitional government for Damascus. With rebel and government forces battling for control of areas in the northern province of Hama, prolonged international efforts to find a political solution to the crisis are on hold. Stepping down as the chief international mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi pointed out that Syrias conflict eventually will end. The question is how many more dead, how much more destruction there is going to be before Syria becomes again the Syria we have known? asked Brahimi. Kerry said President Assad is blocking a political solution. This represents the continuation of the stubborn clinging to power of a man who is willing to drop barrel bombs on his people, to gas them, to shell artillery on innocent civilians, to starve people in their homes, and somehow claim a right to be able to run a country. I dont think the civilized world is going to stand for that, said Kerry. President Assad is running for re-election, denouncing his opponents as terrorists who he says are fighting to topple Syrian democracy. Its a strong position for the president, said former U.S. ambassador Adam Ereli. | 
