Russia blames Syrian opposiion for further bloodshed

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the Syrian opposition to abandon their precondition that President Bashar al-Assad must step down before any talks can be held on ending the conflict. Speaking after meeting former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab, who defected to Jordan last August, Lavrov accused the opposition of disregarding Syrian lives and contributing in more blood shedding in the country by demanding the immediate removal of Assad.
"The most important thing is stopping the violence immediately. If it is more important to the other side to change the Assad regime then they want to continue the bloodbath in Syria," Lavrov said to reporters in Amman.
Lavrov, whose country is one of Assad's strongest allies, said both the government and the opposition must stick to proposals reached last June in Geneva by world leaders. These called for a transitional government in Syria but did not say that Assad must surrender power.
Russia opposed Western and Arab insistence that Assad must quit.
Lavrov also stressed after his meeting in the Jordanian capital with Syria's defected former Prime Minister Riad Hijab that he planned to work with opposition groups to help end the conflict that has ravaged Syria for more than 19 months.
The Russian Foreign Minister said he had stressed in his talks with ex-premier Hijab, who defected to Jordan in August, the need to ensure that "no party exploits the situation to achieve military gain on the ground."
"I have met with Hijab and the goal of the meeting was to find a mechanism to stop the violence in Syria and save Syrian lives," Lavrov said.
"Hijab was ready to listen to us and we will work with him and other Syrian parties."
Lavrov also told reporters that Moscow backs the return of international monitors to Syria, while reiterating Moscow's objections to US-led calls for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and stressing the need for dialogue between the warring parties.
Lavrov insisted that his country has never delivered mass destruction weapons to Assad's regime, adding that all the Russian-made weapons delivered to Syria were sent upon previously signed deals, which were not agreed because of the fights taking place between the Syrian regime and armed rebels.
Lavrov added that his country had information that the Syrian rebels have obtained 50 Stinger shoulder-launched missiles.
"Russia knows that the Syrian rebels have obtained 50 Stinger missiles from outside to hit [regime] jet fighters," Lavrov said.
"Those who are supplying arms to the opposition are delivering systems that are not intended for defence. There is confirmed information that on Syrian territory there are over 50 Stingers," he added.
"You know perfectly well what Stingers are intended for, taking into consideration that the leaders of the Free Syrian Army have repeatedly said that civilian planes will be a legitimate target."
Lavrov, on a two-day visit to Jordan, is also due to meet separately with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.