WarSclerotic

Israel’s stance proves anti-Syrian plot, Iranian FM says | The Times of Israel.

Syrian rebel leaders call for international aid in obtaining arms

Iranian Foreign Minister Akbar Ali Salehi (photo credit: CC-BY Parmida76, Flickr)

Israel’s stance on Syria is proof of an international plot against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday afternoon at a press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem.

Muallem accused Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar of conspiring against Syrians. He and Salehi confirmed that their governments take a similar stance on the ongoing military conflict in Syria.

Muallem added that his country can defend itself from the “terrorists” attacking it, and that the latest round of foreign pressure in Aleppo will be deflected.

According to Salehi, evidence of an anti-Syria plot can be seen can be seen in “the stance Israel has adopted.” Iran’s foreign minister said he was surprised that certain regional countries are walking the same path as the Israelis, and said those countries should rethink their stance and actions.

The thought that a foreign government could step into the vacuum created by a theoretical collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime was described by Salehi as a “delusion.”

Salehi noted that the Syrian regime needed more time to implement Assad’s reform. He also said the citizens of Syria were entitled to civil rights, such as free elections and a constitution.

Earlier on Sunday, a Syrian opposition leader called on the international community to arm rebels on Sunday as the battle between President Bashar Assad and opposition forces raged in Aleppo.

Syrian National Council President Abdul Basit Sida told reporters in Abu Dhabi that the world needs to supply the Syrian opposition with weaponry, especially anti-tank and anti-aircraft rockets, in order to fight Assad’s army.

Assad forces have pounded Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city, with tanks, planes, helicopters, and artillery in the week-long battle with rebel forces. At least 160 people were killed in Syria on Saturday, 33 of whom died in Aleppo, the Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported.

According to various human rights groups, to date some 20,000 people have been killed in the violent uprisings against the regime of Bashar Assad, which started in March 2011.

This entry was posted on July 29, 2012 at 2:16 PM and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.