‘Don’t try to pick and choose Syria leadership’

Published on 03/11/2012 00:00

A senior Russian diplomat yesterday warned the West against trying to predetermine a future leadership for Syria.

Deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov said any such attempts would contradict the peace plan for Syria approved by world powers in Geneva in June. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that America would push for a shake-up in the opposition leadership so that it better represents fighters on the front line.

America’s aim would be to rally international support and to prevent extremists hijacking the rebellion. “Attempts by western sponsors of the Syrian opposition to enforce a list of the nation’s future leadership from the outside contradict the Geneva agreements,” Mr Gatilov said. “The communiqué says a transitional governing body should be formed on the basis of mutual accord of the government and the opposition.”

Russia has been the main supporter of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government, shielding it from UN sanctions. Earlier this week, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Mr Assad’s removal would only make matters worse and urged opposition groups to name representatives for talks with the Syrian regime.