Russia, China reject ' foreign interference' to ongoing protests in Syria

Damascus, Feb 24(ANI): Both Russia and China are opposed to foreign interference ongoing protests in Syria, the Foreign Ministry has said in the wake of the latter working to step up international support for its stance ahead of a major international conference.

Both countries had earlier vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions aimed at ending the conflict in Syria and condemning President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on opponents.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's office said he called his Chinese counterpart and they "reaffirmed the joint position of Russia and China."

Both countries support "a speedy end to any violence in Syria and the launch of inclusive dialogue between the authorities and the opposition without preconditions for a peaceful settlement that excludes foreign interference in Syrian affairs," Fox News quoted the ministry, as saying.

Tunisia's presidential spokesperson Adnan Mancer said his country would propose a political solution to the Syrian crisis that includes the deployment of a peacekeeping force and Assad stepping down from power.

The political transition would be akin to what happened in Yemen, where president Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in favor of his deputy after widespread protests. The Arab League already has made similar calls on Assad.

Mancer said Tunisia is ready to take part in the peacekeeping force to back "a political solution because we totally oppose a foreign military intervention."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is trying to build support for Russia's position.

Medvedev emphasized that "foreign interference, attempts to assess the legitimacy of the leadership of a state from the outside run counter to the norms of international law and are fraught with the threat of regional and global destabilization," a Kremlin statement said. (ANI)