Russia wants Syria bloodshed to `stop immediately`

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin called on the Syrian opposition to cut its relations with the armed groups.

Moscow: Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin called on Thursday the Syrian opposition to cut its relations with the "armed groups" in the unrest-ridden country.

"I call on the Syrian political opposition to cut its relations with armed groups in Syria," Zasypkin told Hizbollah affiliated Al Manar TV.

"When violence increases, peaceful protest movement transforms into civil war," Zaspykin said.

The diplomat also said that Russia wanted the "bloodshed" in Syria to stop immediately, noting that Moscow was working with the Syrian government to help resolve its current crisis.

The Syrian government repeatedly says the 14-month unrest in Syria is the work of armed groups backed by foreign plot rather than popular will.

ANI