Russia accuses Syrian extremists of taking revenge on civilians

Global Times

7 AUGUST, 2013

Russia accused extremists in Syria Wednesday of taking revenge for their poor military position out on civilians.

“Retreating in an open confrontation with the government forces, the extremists take it out on vulnerable civilians, attempting to intimidate the people, to seed chaos, to aggravate inter-confessional discord,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russia strongly condemned a Tuesday attack on the outskirts of Damascus. At least 18 people, including three children, were killed and 56 others were wounded by a car bomb in the pro-government suburb of Jaramana. A similar bombing in the same town on July 25 killed at least seven people and wounded more than 60.

Moscow reiterated its urge to all countries and sides having influence on the “radicals and extremists” in Syria to demand an immediate stop of violence and acts of terrorism.

Also on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow hoped the U.N. Security Council would condemn the latest terror attack in Syria.

“I expect the (Security Council) will unequivocally condemn all these terror attacks and that it will consistently sustain that position,” Lavrov told reporters following his talks with visiting Ghana counterpart Hanna Tetteh.

The diplomat said some Security Council members had previously been reluctant to condemn terror attacks in Syria.

“That position is absolutely unacceptable. Terrorism must be dealt with without any double standards,” he said.

He said the priority of the proposed conference on Syria must be re-targeting military efforts of the government forces and armed opposition toward fighting terrorists.

Responding to the news, Director of ODFS, Ribal Al-Assad said:

“I completely agree with Foreign Minister Lavrov when he says that terrorism must be dealt with without any double standards.

“It is abundantly clear that the extremist rebels know no boundaries and are happy to kill, maim, or kidnap at will.

They are brainwashed by their perverted ideology and will not hesitate to harm unarmed citizen’s caught up in the conflict. We have to be absolute on this, these acts are not acceptable under any circumstance and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Furthermore, these individuals have no future in Syria and we must not bring them into the fold.

Only parties who have a genuine belief in a plural and free democracy – regardless of race, religion, creed or sex – can come to the table.

Let us not forget the heinous crimes these groups are committing.”