Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow is ready to discuss a possible United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria but will not support a document that targets only the government for censure.
President Medvedev told Euronews television Thursday that Russia is concerned about Syria's “disproportionate use of force and the large number of victims.” Mr. Medvedev said he had made that clear to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in private talks.
But the Russian leader also said some of those protesting against Mr. Assad's government are “extremists” and “terrorists.” He described Russia as a “great friend” of Syria ready to back different approaches to the crisis – except those based on one-sided condemnations of Mr. Assad's government.
Mr. Medvedev's interview was released the same day Russia announced plans to mediate talks that could allow Mr. Assad to remain in power despite the massive anti-government protests.
Russian envoy Mikhail Margelov said he will meet Syrian opposition figures in Moscow Friday and with an aide to Mr. Assad on Monday. Margelov said Russia is holding out against a Western draft United Nations resolution in the hope that its own proposal would win support.
Meanwhile, Syria's crackdown on anti-government protesters continued Thursday when troops raided a residence in the northwestern village of Ibleen, killing three military defectors.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the house belongs to the brother of Hussein Harmouche, who allegedly defected from the army in June and set up the Syrian Free Officers movement.
The state-run SANA news agency said Thursday that eight law enforcement and security force members were killed by “armed terrorist groups” in the city of Homs. Mr. Assad's government has blamed much of the deadly violence on armed gunmen and terrorists.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he has urged Syria to carry out political reforms “before it is too late.” During a speech in Australia Thursday, Mr. Ban said violence against Syrians had continued despite his repeated calls for President Assad to halt his forces' “excessive and lethal” actions.
The United Nations estimates 2,200 people have been killed since March after Mr. Assad launched the crackdown on dissent.
