Russia: We believe the Syrian leadership reacted wrongly to first appearance of peaceful protests.

[tabatha]

By Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW | Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:38pm EDT

(Reuters) - Syria's leadership has made "very many mistakes" that have aggravated the crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in remarks broadcast on Tuesday, seeking to distance Moscow from President Bashar al-Assad amid a diplomatic push for peace.

Lavrov's comments were some of Russia's toughest criticism of Damascus in a year of bloodshed, but he also took aim at the West and reiterated Russia's position that Assad's exit must not be a precondition for a solution to the crisis.

"We believe the Syrian leadership reacted wrongly to the first appearance of peaceful protests and, despite making repeated promises in response to our calls, the Syrian leadership is making very many mistakes," Lavrov told Russian radio station Kommersant-FM.

"The things that it is doing in the right direction, it is doing late," he told Russian radio station Kommersant-FM. "This, unfortunately, has in many ways led the conflict to reach such a severe stage."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/20/us-syria-russia-idUSBRE82J13O20120320

To those who have claimed that it is the "terrorists" who are responsible for the escalation - Russia disagrees with you. I think they are probably better informed than many.

[geek tragedy]

1. Sure, now that the protestors have been butchered with diplomatic cover

from Russia, now they meekly offer criticism.

Makes me appreciate Bush the humanitarian.

[amandabeech]

2. This is a remarkable statement from Putin-run Russia.

They are criticizing old allies for over-reacting to peaceful marches.

It may mean that Putin is starting to understand free speech in normal countries.

It is also a big signal to Assad that he has to negotiate a cease-fire, and probably a new government, or Russia will not support Syria in the U.S.

Really, remarkable.

[Muskypundit]

3. Russia just put troops on the ground in Syria specifically to help Assad.

That is an action that will have consequences. This is just a bullshit cover of cheap words.

[Owlet]

5. There's some confustion about these Russian troops

There are several different versions of the story. Worth the read at link.

http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-troops-syria-port-tartus-2012-3

[David__77]

4. What the diplomat says isn't so important.

It is what the diplomat does that is important, first and foremost.