[Debate] Russia says "Syria terrorists need decisive rebuff"

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

Russia should have come up with something better than the Annan plan
for Syria. . . .

<http://bit.ly/JhWDs0>
Russia says “Syria terrorists need decisive rebuff”

Russia on Saturday said it backed delivering a "decisive rebuff" to
"terrorists" operating in Syria a day after state television reported
11 people killed in a bomb blast outside a Damascus mosque.

"We are convinced that the terrorists operating in Syria need a
decisive rebuff, and that all domestic and outside players need to
prevent any support" from reaching the rebel forces, the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.

Syrian state television on Friday reported that 11 people were killed
and 28 wounded in a suicide attack in the historic Midan neighborhood
in the heart of the capital.

It said the attack near the Zein al-Abidine mosque took place "while
worshippers were making their way out."

Russia has previously argued that a ceasefire brokered by
international envoy Kofi Annan was largely holding despite periodic
episodes of violence and has urged all sides to engage in direct
talks.

But its criticism of the rebels has been more explicit than its
condemnation of attacks observers pin on the Syrian army.

Damascus is a long-standing Russian ally and Moscow blocked two rounds
UN sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's regime in the past year.

Russia on Saturday accused the rebels of trying to undermine Annan's
peace efforts as part of a broader campaign to get foreign powers
drawn into the conflict.

"Moscow resolutely condemns these barbaric acts," the foreign ministry said.

"We are especially concerned by attempts by Syria's intransigent
opposition – even at the cost of the death of innocent civilians – to
intensify the situation in the country and incite violence," the
statement said.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon



-- 
Yoshie Furuhashi
<http://mrzine.org/>