Syria becoming `centre of gravity` for terrorists

Moscow: Syria is turning into a "centre of gravity" for international terrorists as the ongoing civil war between rebels and government forces continues, a top Russian official has said.

"Syria`s transformation into the centre of gravity for international terrorists is becoming a reality," said Alexander Lukashevich, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. He added that it was a "frightening reality". Last year, the Syrian government presented the UN Security Council with lists of hundreds of foreign nationals who had been killed fighting against government troops in Syria. Lukashevich said war-torn Syria needs to open a dialogue between the two sides, and that "Russia will continue its efforts to speed up the resolution of the conflict". About 70,000 people have died in Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, according to UN estimates. IANS