Asking Assad to quit, blocks peace efforts

MOSCOW

Free Syria Army fighters guard a group of detained policemen. AFP photo

Demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad quit power are blocking efforts to end the conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned yesterday. Lavrov said such calls were fanning the flames of violence and reiterated Moscow’s claim that support for Syrian rebel groups was tantamount to backing terrorism, Reuters reported.

“We propose things that would allow for an immediate ceasefire, but the other side says, ‘No, either the regime capitulates or we will continue to back ... the opposition’s armed fight’, justifying terrorist acts,” Lavrov said. In the meantime, a Iran’s vice president in charge of international affairs, Ali Saeedlou said his country is ready to share “experience and capabilities” Syrian regime yesterday, the Associated Press reported.