Russia FM Says Syria President ‘Not Bluffing’ About Staying Put; Rebels Hold Onto UN Troops

Source: Associated Press

BEIRUT — Syrian President Bashar Assad “is not bluffing” about his determination to stay in power, Russia’s foreign minister said in comments broadcast Friday, as negotiations to free 21 U.N. peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels dragged into a third day.

--CLIP
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the BBC in an interview broadcast Friday that the Syrian leader is digging in and “is not going to leave.”

“We know this for sure, and all those who get in touch with him know that he is not bluffing,” Lavrov said.

He added that Russia, a close Syria ally, will not pressure Assad to leave.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/abduction-of-peacekeepers-illustrates-un-vulnerability-in-syria-adds-to-israeli-concerns/2013/03/07/3219d7a2-8797-11e2-a80b-3edc779b676f_story.html