Syria reportedly releases terrorist mastermind in warning to West

The Syrian regime is believed to have released the mastermind behind terrorist attacks that killed 52 public transit users in London seven years ago, Britain's Telegraph reports.

Abu Musab al-Suri's release appears to be a signal to Syria's critics – particularly the U.S. and Britain – that turning against the regime would be risky. Al-Suri was captured in Pakistan by the CIA in 2005 and returned to Syria, his birthplace, under the rendition program.

Al-Suri had been considered before his capture as a possible successor to Osama bin Laden at the head of al Qaeda.

His release was first reported last week by a Syrian opposition web site, the Telegraph reports.

President Obama on Saturday condemned the latest attack by the Syrian regime on its own people and once again called for President Bashar al-Assad to step down immediately.

But a U.S.-led effort for a United Nations resolution calling for Democratic government in Syria was blocked in the Security Council by China and Russia.

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