Russia, China-led bloc opposes Syria intervention

CHINA: A regional group led by Russia and China said Thursday it opposed military intervention in the Middle East, a day after the Syrian opposition accused forces loyal to the regime of massacring 100 people.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) statement called for a “peaceful resolution of the Syrian problem through political dialogue”, adding the use of force against Iran -- an ally of both Beijing and Moscow -- was “unacceptable”.

“Member states are against military intervention into this region’s affairs, forcing a ‘handover of power’ or using unilateral sanctions,” said the declaration, issued at the end of a summit in Beijing attended by the leaders of Russia, China and Iran, among others.

Moscow and Beijing have consistently opposed international intervention in Syria, but they face growing pressure to change their stance after 15 months of conflict in which more than 13,500 people are said to have died.

On Wednesday, an exiled opposition group said forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had “massacred” about 100 people including women and children -- a claim the regime denied -- as the US demanded a full transfer of power. AFP