ABU DHABI – British Prime Minister David Cameron Monday lashed out at the United Nations for its failure to take a strong stance against the Syrian regime, insisting that embattled President Bashar Al-Assad must go. “I think in the case of Syria, the United Nations has let the world down,” Cameron said during a visit to the United Arab Emirates. “Like-minded countries like our two countries (Britain and the UAE) should go on working together to try to see what more can we do to help the Syrian people throw off this brutal dictator who's murdering so many,” Cameron told students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. “You know that Bashar Al-Assad cannot possibly stay running his country... He has to go,” he added. Cameron will be arriving in Jeddah Tuesday, signaling his commitment to cementing long-term partnerships with Britain's most important strategic allies in the Gulf, a statement from his office said Monday. Cameron Monday kicked of a three-day Gulf visit aimed at enhancing ties. In Abu Dhabi, he held talks with Dubai Emir Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. Downing Street said Britain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia had a “shared commitment to security and stability and defeating the threats we face in the wider Middle East region.” Cameron visited Saudi Arabia in January 2012. The British prime minister and Sheikh Mohammed discussed “ways to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between the two friendly countries” as well as the regional political and security situation. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, also attended the Dubai meeting. Cameron arrived early Monday and breakfasted with British troops based in the Gulf state soon after his arrival, the British embassy in the United Arab Emirates said on its Twitter account. He later took a ride on the Dubai Metro and tweeted: “British engineering helped build it with contracts worth over £600 million.” Meeting students in Abu Dhabi, Cameron said: “I'm a supporter of the Arab Spring, the opportunity of moving towards more open societies, more open democracies, I think is good for the Middle East, for North Africa.” – Agencies
