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Russia rejects wider sanctions on Syria

14 September 2011 03:37 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Russia has rejected Western calls for wider sanctions on Syria over its violent crackdown on protests against President Bashar al-Assad, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The statement by Russia was made only one day after a Syrian delegation met Russian senior officials. France has described the lack of a firm UN stance against Damascus as a scandal. But Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says recent US and European sanctions on Syria meant "additional pressure now is absolutely not needed in this direction." Medvedev stressed that Russia believes any resolution must be "tough but balanced, and addressed to both sides in Syria."

The UN says more than 2,600 civilians have been killed since the crackdown on protests began in mid-March. The world body has named a three-member panel of international experts to investigate human rights violations, including possible crimes against humanity during the protests.