India to coordinate position on Libya, G20 at IBSA summit

New Delhi, Oct 17 (ANI): As the leaders of three fast growing nations India, Brazil and South Africa prepares to hold talks at fifth IBSA summit in Pretoria on Tuesday, there is immense pressure on these countries which are non -permanent members of the Security Council to leverage their rising global influence to stop state atrocities in Libya.

In August, an IBSA delegation went to Syria and met with the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and foreign minister Walid Al-Muallem and had urged the west Asian nation to bring reforms, open dialogue with opposition and end the cycle of violence.

India, Brazil and South Africa also abstained from the crucial vote on resolution calling on Syria to end the violence against its citizens. Russia and China vetoed the resolution

IBSA countries which are also fellow democracies and pluralistic societies have been vocal in opposing any military action and externally imposed regime changes.

IBSA nations have been pitching for a dialogue between the Assad regime and the opposition groups and have made a serious effort to engage Assad diplomatically.

Human Rights watch has urged that the Leaders of the three countries to use their two-day Heads of State and Government Dialogue Forum, hosted by President Jacob Zuma to categorically demand that the Syrian government end its widespread and systematic attacks on anti-government protesters and activists

Syria is also expected to grant access to UN investigators and human rights monitors said human rights watch.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh embarks on his three-day visit to South Africa today. Singh will also hold bilateral meetings with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and South African President Jacob Zuma.

According to reports since March, Syrian security forces have killed more than 3,000 people, including at least 187 children, while arresting, detaining, thousands more.

During the summit level talks India, Brazil and South Africa also part of G20 would also carve out strategy on forthcoming G20 summit to be held in Cannes early next month. Economic issues are likely to dominate IBSA summit, which is taking place in the backdrop of "occupy wall street revolution" that has been gaining strength in US and Europe. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)