Moscow Cautions Against 'Pretext' To Intervene In Syria

October 03, 2012

Moscow has warned NATO and other powers not to seek a "pretext" to intervene militarily in Syria's bloody conflict.

In an interview with the Interfax news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said Russia also opposed "humanitarian corridors or buffer zones."

His comments come amid rising tensions between Syria and Turkey after a mortar fired from Syria struck inside Turkey. Ankara has threatened to respond if it happens again.

Gatilov called for restraint between NATO-member Turkey and Syria, where, Gatilov claimed, there is a "rising number of radicals among the Syrian opposition."

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan recently criticized Russia for blocking efforts at the UN to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and said Moscow's stance allowed massacres to continue in Syria.

More than 20,000 people are estimated to have died since Arab Spring-style protests and insurrection began against Assad's regime in March 2011.

Based on Reuters and Interfax reporting

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-syria-/24727178.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.