Clinton toughens talk on Syria

The United States has started toning up its language against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime to effect change in the country, as protests enter its fifth month of defiance.

Speaking in Lithuania at an international democracy conference, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton warned that "the rule of law, political parties and democratic institutions must emerge in the Arab world if it is to emulate Eastern Europe's remarkable transition two decades ago from authoritarianism to truly free societies".