Obama, Putin talk as U.S. says Assad losing grip on Syria

The United States said on Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was losing control of his country and urged Russia and the international community to get behind a political transition plan to avert sectarian civil war.    

U.S. President Barack Obama called Russian President Vladimir Putin - Assad's main international supporter - after a Damascus bomb blast killed Syria's defense minister and Assad's brother-in-law, throwing the 16-month old rebellion onto an unpredictable new path.   

"The window is closing, we need to take action in a unified way to help bring about the transition that the Syrian people so deserve," White House spokesman Jay Carney said at a news conference.    

The White House said Obama discussed the deteriorating Syrian situation with Putin, whose government has repeatedly blocked efforts to rally the U.N. Security Council behind tough measures against Damascus.    

But while the two leaders agreed on the need to stop the violence, both Russian and U.S. officials said they ended the call divided over the best way forward.    

"They noted the differences our governments have had on Syria, but agreed to have their teams continue to work toward a solution," the White House said in a statement.    

With Russia adamantly opposed to what it sees as a Western-led attempt to dictate the outcome of Syria's crisis, the U.N. Security Council delayed until Thursday a proposed vote on a U.S.-backed resolution that threatens Damascus with sanctions if it does not stop using heavy weapons and withdraw troops from towns and cities.    

Russia has indicated it will likely veto the measure if it comes to a vote..    

The White House, reiterating the U.S. view that Assad's days are numbered, said the international community must now come together around a political transition plan to establish a democratic order in Syria after Assad departs.    

"The sooner this transition happens, the greater the chance we have of averting a lengthy and bloody sectarian civil war and the better we'll be able to help Syrians manage a stable transition to democracy," said Tommy Vietor, another White House spokesman.    

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking earlier, said Syria was lurching into dangerous territory and emphasized that Assad's government would be held responsible if it failed to safeguard its chemical weapons sites - a major concern for U.S. and regional security planners.    

"This is a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control," Panetta told a Pentagon news conference.         

Reuters