Russia accuses West of stoking Syria conflict by arming rebels

[Chris]

Russia accuses West of stoking Syria conflict by arming rebels
In attempt to deflect criticism of Russia for blocking UN resolution, deputy FM says Western states sending the opposition arms, giving them advice and direction.
By Reuters

Russia said on Friday that the West was stoking the conflict in Syria by sending weapons to the opponents of President Bashar Assad. In an attempt to deflect criticism of Russia for blocking a UN Security Council resolution urging Assad to give up power, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Western states were stirring up trouble in Syria, where Assad has pursued a violent crackdown since March on protests against his 11-year rule.

"Western states inciting Syrian opposition to uncompromising actions, as well as those sending arms to them, giving them advice and direction, are participating in the process of fomenting the crisis," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. He did not specify which nations were arming Syrian rebels. On Sunday Russia and China vetoed a Western-Arab draft UN resolution that called on Assad to quit. That drew U.S. and European criticism which Russia dismissed as hysterical.

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Russia Says West is an 'Accomplice' in Syria Violence
Russia accuses the West of being an “accomplice” to the violence in Syria, says the opposition responsible for ending the ongoing violence.
By Elad Benari, Canada
First Publish: 2/10/2012, 10:41 PM

Russia accused the West on Friday of being an “accomplice” to the violence in Syria, saying the country’s opposition bore full responsibility for ending the ongoing violence in the country. AFP quoted Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as having said that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s promise to stage a new constitutional referendum meant that it was now up to the armed resistance movement to take the next step. Ryabkov added that Russia was ready to follow its veto of a draft UN Security Council resolution on the crisis with additional “strong measures” should the West continue to refuse to acknowledge the opposition's role in the crisis.

“The Syrian leadership has assured us of its readiness to quickly hold a referendum on a new constitution and move toward elections,” Ryabkov was quoted as having told the ITAR-TASS news agency. He added, “This means that the opposition bears full responsibility for improving the situation and finding a way to stop the bloodshed.”

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