We also applaud the Obama Administration for taking leadership at the UN Security Council and we strongly criticize Russia and China for vetoing Security Council initiatives aimed at censuring and sanctioning Syria. Regrettably, their vetoes have strengthened Syria's hands as it commits carnage against its own people.

"In the wake of this Tunis meeting, APN urges the Obama Administration to carry out its pledge to provide emergency humanitarian relief, ratchet up pressure on the regime, and prepare for a democratic transition. It is vital that a path forward be found that will defend and protect civilians in Syria and that can lead to an end to this crisis.

"It is impossible to overstate the difficulty facing the Obama Administration and the international community in trying to find a way to stop the bloodshed. At the same time, it is clear that the situation inside Syria is untenable and appears to be worsening every day. Not only is this intolerable on moral grounds, but the U.S. and Israel also have important strategic interests in the outcome of the crisis, given that Syria borders on Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq.

"Recognizing both the enormity of the challenge and the interests at stake, we urge the Obama Administration to consider other means by which to ensure the protection of civilians and ensure that wounded Syrian civilians and journalists are permitted to leave Syria. Some have suggested that the U.S should be working to establish a humanitarian corridor and a ceasefire, to enable civilians to flee. Others have suggested the U.S. work with its allies to impose a no-fly zone. We are not endorsing these nor any other specific strategies, but we underscore our belief that it is imperative that the U.S. act, and soon, to convince the Assad regime to end its violent rampage against its citizens and to protect those civilians from their regime's wrath.

"For almost a year we have all watched in horror as the situation in Syria has deteriorated and the lives of innocent civilians have been destroyed by the desperate and brutal actions of the Assad regime and its supporters. Today, whole cities in Syria are being obliterated; men, women and children are being killed and injured in shocking numbers; journalists cannot freely enter Syria and when they enter they are at serious risk.

"We salute the courage of the Syrian people in the face of this brutality. We also applaud the brave reporting that has come from the few journalists who have reported from inside Syria and we mourn the deaths of both Anthony Shadid and Marie Colvin. As they do in so many places and at great personal risk, war correspondents today are playing an essential role in making sure that the world knows what is happening to the Syrian people."