US warns Assad of tough measures if peace plan fails

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of tougher measures if he squanders his last chance by failing to implement the Kofi Annan peace plan.It is obviously quite concerning that, while UN observers are starting to deploy in Syria, the guns of the Assad regime are once again firing in Homs, Idlib and elsewhere, Clinton told reporters in Brussels.We are at a crucial turning point, the chief US diplomat said on the eve of a high-level meeting in Paris designed to consider further pressure on Assad.Either the international community succeeds in pushing forward Annans six-point plan or we see Assad squandering his last chance before additional measures have to be considered, Clinton said.She talked of increased sanctions but declined to answer a question on whether it was fine for other countries to arm the rebels -- a stand taken by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Speaking after talks with NATO foreign and defence ministers in Brussels, Clinton simply said the United States is not providing lethal arms to the opposition and is instead sending communications equipment and other non-lethal aid to them.France said that 14 foreign ministers, including Clinton, would attend a meeting on Syria in Paris on Thursday to send a strong message to Assads regime to implement the Annan plan.Clinton said she looked forward to her consultations in Paris.