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Russia says "Friends of Syria" encourage extremists
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint news conference with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Moscow February 22, 2013.
Credit: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
MOSCOW |
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday that decisions made at a "Friends of Syria" meeting in Rome, at which Western and Arab states pledged aid for Syrian rebels, would embolden President Bashar al-Assad's foes seeking his overthrow.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said rebel attempts to topple Assad would inevitably cause suffering among civilians in Syria, where more than 70,000 people have been killed in a nearly two-year-old conflict.
"Decisions taken in Rome, as well as declarations voiced there, in letter and spirit directly encourage extremists to (seek) the seizure of power by force," he said in a statement.
After the "Friends of Syria" meeting on Thursday, the United States said it would give non-lethal aid directly to rebels for the first time and would more than double its support to Syria's civilian opposition, but Western powers did not offer weapons.
Russia says it is not propping up Assad but has shielded him by blocking U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed to put pressure on him to end bloodshed and by insisting that his exit from power must not be a precondition for a negotiated solution.
On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin cautiously welcomed French President Francois Hollande's proposal that dialogue on Syria be broadened to bring in parties that could act as negotiators between Assad and opposition rebels.
(Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Gabriela Baczynska and Alistair Lyon)
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It is due to support from the Kremlin, that these killers are able to shoot Scuds into residential buildings.
It’s time for Russia to face the music, Assad has lost. He’s the major of Damascus, not the leader of Syria anymore. And there is nothing anyone can do about it.
The West is helping with aid, because this war has gone on long enough. Assad cannot possibly win. You can’t beat a majority of people in your own country. It’s simply not possible.
Russia should focus on its own internal threats. Such as Chinese illegal immigrants. Who number in the millions on its eastern flank. Lying in wait. Waiting for Russia to lower their guard more..
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