UN peace envoy, Russia seek way out of Syria crisis

RUSSIA: Russia on Monday was to host the UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to seek new ways of tackling the crisis in Syria after a truce failed to take hold. Russia had thrown its support behind Brahimi's call for Bashar al-Assad's army and the rebels to lay down arms during the Eid al-Adha holiday.

However shelling and car bombings resumed hours after the ceasefire had been due to take effect on Friday, with each side blaming the other for breaking it.

Brahimi was due to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow and the two were then to take questions from the press before 1000 GMT.

Russia has blamed the rebels for the failure to contain the violence, with deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov charging that "the opposition foiled the ceasefire," making clear its "intent to continue violence."

AFP