Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the US of supplying weapons to Syria’s opposition forces, a day after Washington said Moscow was sending to “attack helicopters” to aid Damascus. Lavrov told a news conference during a brief visit to Iran on Wednesday that Russia was supplying “anti-air defence systems” to Damascus in a deal that “in no way violates international laws”.
UN monitors say at least 14,100 people have been killed in the 15-month uprising against the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russia came under fierce criticism from Western and Arab countries for vetoing two UN Security Council resolutions that would have sanctioned Assad for his use of force.”That contrasts with what the United States is doing with the opposition, which is providing arms to the Syrian opposition which are being used against the Syrian government,” he said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that she had information Russia was sending to Syria “attack helicopters… which will escalate the conflict quite dramatically”. It was the first time Moscow has directly pointed the finger at Washington. Previously, it had said unidentified “foreign powers” were arming Syria’s opposition.
The UN has about 300 observers on the ground charged with monitoring both sides’ compliance with a peace plan mediated by Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general turned UN envoy. But the observers have been unable to reach certain parts of the country, including al-Haffa, a besieged coastal town where a crackdown has been feared.
The mission said it was barred from entering al-Haffa by “angry crowds” who threw stones and metal rods at their vehicles. Most accounts of violence cannot be independently verified, as Syria restricts access for journalists.
Ref: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/06/201261313238664240.html
Tags: Arming Word, iran, Syrian, Syrian revolt, US, US arming Syrian Rebels
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