Lavrov says boths sides to blame for Syria violence

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, says the Assad regime should not be solely blamed for violence in Syria.

During a heated meeting in Cairo, Arab league countries pressed Moscow to join their attempts to Isolate the Syrian President, but Lavrov said they should instead focus on getting aid into the country:

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

“I believe that we all agree when we talk on Syria that the immediate task now is to end violence irrespective of the sources – like the Arab League initiative from 2nd November says – and allow humanitarian assistance to all those who are in need of it”

Russia, a long standing ally of Damascus – and its main arms supplier – has vetoed two UN security council resolutions that blamed Assad’s regime for the violence. Along with China the two countries have shielded Damascus from its Western and Arab critics.

Lavrov is also said to have held a meeting with Kofi Annan, the special envoy for Syria appointed by the UN and the League, ahead of his visit to Syria on Saturday.

More about: Arab League, Bashar al-Assad, Kofi Annan, Syria

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