The White House on Wednesday dismissed as "quite laughable" Syria's planned referendum on a new constitution later this month.

"It's actually quite laughable, it makes a mockery of the Syrian revolution," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Wisconsin state.

"Promises of reforms have usually been followed by an increase in brutality and have never been delivered upon by this regime since the beginning of the peaceful demonstrations in Syria," he remarked.

He claimed that the days of the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad are numbered, as senior military and civilian leadership are demonstrating their lack of faith in the future of the president by moving assets and preparing to send their family out of the country.

"And it's clear that Syria's future will not include Assad. It' s not a question of if, it's just a question of when," Carney said.

He said Washington is working "in a very focused way" with an array of international allies and partners to add to the pressure on Assad with a view to helping bring about a peaceful transition in Syria.

In his presidential decree issued on Wednesday, Assad set Feb. 26 as the date for the referendum on a new draft constitution. He pledged in a national speech on Jan. 10 that the new constitution would be focused on the pluralism of political parties and institutions.

Violence and bomb attacks are ravaging Syria as the Arab nation is undergoing an 11-month unrest.