Dubai: Three large Russian warships, carrying over 260 marines, are heading for the Syrian port of Tartus, a day after UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan quit his role as mediator and called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
According to Gulf News, the move signalled a growing unease of Syria’s staunchest ally, Russia, who believes that the Assad regime is sinking fast.
However, Russia has denied the claims, and the Russian Defence Ministry said that there were no plans for the vessels to dock in the war-torn country.
Violence has spiralled out of control in recent weeks as the Syrian Army struggles to regain territory lost to the rebels, while protesters in Aleppo took to the streets yesterday, demanding the death of Assad, the report said.
Earlier, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin reportedly rejected a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on Syria, calling it ‘one-sided’ and claimed that the draft showed "blatant support for the armed opposition".
ANI
First Published: Saturday, August 04, 2012, 16:29