Leading MEP urges EU to impose Syria no-fly zone

(STRASBOURG) - Former Belgian premier and leading European lawmaker Guy Verhofstadt on Tuesday urged European Union intervention in Syria to protect civilians, notably by imposing a no-fly zone against government planes.

"For more than a year we have offered no real response to the situation in Syria on behalf of the international community," said the leader of the European Parliament's centre-right group.

He said the EU sanctions against President Bashar Al-Assad's regime "were not tantamount to a real policy that would change the situation in Syria."

"We are missing a real policy," he said.

Saying nothing would change before the US presidential election in November, Verhofstadt said "the European Union must be at the forefront" of the fight against the regime and "not wait for the Americans."

"Being at the forefront for Europe means imposing a no-fly zone in Syria so that Assad's planes cannot intervene," he said.

He also called for "safety zones, humanitarian corridors," help for the rebel Free Syria Army and more humanitarian aid.

If not, "the tragedy will continue", he said.