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Russian Official Acknowledges Syria's Assad Losing Control

December 13, 2012

A senior Russian official has acknowledged for the first time that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is losing control over his country and may be toppled by rebels.

On December 13, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Russia is making plans for the possible evacuation of thousands of its nationals in Syria.

He said a victory by the rebels would come at the cost of tens of thousands of lives.

Russia is a longtime Syrian ally and has called for talks between the Syrian government and the rebels to resolve the 20-month-long conflict.

It has joined China at the UN Security Council to veto three resolutions that would have pressured Assad's regime to end its bloody crackdown on the uprising.

Western powers have repeatedly called on Assad to step down.

Kidnappers Threaten Russians, Ukrainians, Iranians

Media reports in Ukraine say the kidnappers of a Ukrainian journalist in Syria are threatening via the Internet to attack the Ukrainian, Russian, and Iranian embassies in Syria.

Citizens of those countries in Syria are also reportedly under threat.

Journalist Ankhar Kochnyeva was kidnapped in October by a group that says it's part of the Free Syrian Army opposed to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

In a video posted on the Internet last month, Kochnyeva said she was a Russian secret service agent and asked that her abductors demands be fulfilled.

It's not clear if she was coerced into making the statement.

The kidnappers later announced via their website that they wanted $50 million for her release.

On December 12, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry urged Syrian officials to assist in her release.

Car Bomb Kills 16

In Syria, a car-bomb attack has reportedly killed 16 people and wounded about 20 others southwest of Damascus.

State news agency SANA reported that the casualties included women and children and blamed 'terrorists' for the attack.

The blast reportedly took place in the town of Qatana on December 13 when a car packed with explosives blew up near a school.

Earlier, Syrian activists had reported an explosion outside an army housing complex in the town.

The reports come as opposition activists say fighting between rebels and government forces raged near Damascus.

Late on December 12, three bombs exploded at the Interior Ministry, killing five people.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials were quoted as saying government forces were firing Scud-type missiles at rebels.

The short-range rockets reportedly were launched from Damascus toward northern Syria.

Based on reporting by UNIAN, RIA Novosti, Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/syria-kidnappers-threaten- russians-ukrainians-iranians/24797607.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.