| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria government 'losing control' - Russian official |
| 2012-12-13 |
| A Russian official has said for the first time that the Syrian government may be defeated by opposition forces. President Bashar al-Assad's forces are "losing more and more control and territory", deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Thursday. Russia was also making plans for a possible evacuation of thousands of its citizens in Syria, Mr Bogdanov said. Russia has been one of the staunchest international allies of Mr Assad's government. "Unfortunately, we cannot rule out the victory of the Syrian opposition," Mr Bogdanov said. Russia, along with China, has used its veto at the UN Security Council to block resolutions condemning the Syrian government's use of violence. Later on Thursday, Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the organisation believed the Syrian government was approaching collapse. 'Unacceptable price' Mr Bogdanov repeated Russia's call for dialogue between the two sides, predicting that the fighting would grow more intense. These comments are significant. Russia has been a firm supporter of President Assad, providing the Syrian government with political and military support; it has also protected the Syrian leader at the UN, by vetoing Security Council resolutions that would have increased the pressure on the Syrian president. Now, for the first time, the Russians have publicly conceded that their ally faces possible defeat. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said it was time to "face facts" and admit that the victory of the Syrian opposition "could not be ruled out". Moscow's critics will argue that Russia has been too slow to "face facts"; if President Assad is ousted, the Russians may struggle to retain influence in the region. He said tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of people would be killed if that happened. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 They'll be able to recoup their losses by selling weapons into the intramurals after Assad falls. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-12-13 12:07 |
| #1 Russia shouldn't worry too much about losing influence in the region- the work of propping up tyranny will go on and on. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2012-12-13 09:46 |