Russia says Annan offers last chance for Syria

RUSSIA: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Syria that Kofi Annan represented the last chance for avoiding a civil war and offered the UN-Arab League envoy Moscow’s full support.

Medvedev’s stark message to Moscow’s traditional ally Sunday came only hours after US President Barack Obama announced plans to send “non-lethal” aid to the Syrian rebels and as new waves of violence swept the battle-scarred country.

Dozens were killed in fighting on Sunday as the Syrian army pressed its assault on protest hubs, with at least 18 civilians among the dead, according to activists and monitors.

Russia has been facing mounting Western and Arab calls to step up pressure and stop delivering arms to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after a year of violence that the opposition says has claimed more than 9,100 lives.

Moscow on Wednesday backed a non-binding Security Council statement after vetoing two previous resolutions -- but only after making sure the text contained no implicit threat of further action should Assad fail to comply. Medvedev’s comments on Sunday appeared to be aimed at Assad. “This may be the last chance for Syria to avoid a protracted and bloody civil war,” Medvedev told Annan at a meeting in Moscow before the Russian leader’s departure for a summit in Seoul.

“We will be offering you our full support at any level at which we have a say,” said Medvedev.

“We very much hope that your efforts have a positive outcome.” Annan replied that he expected Russia to play an “active” role in making sure that both sides followed the points of the UN Security Council-backed initiative.

AFP