Russia raps Arab League over Syria seat

Source  :  http://old.mehrnews.com/

TEHRAN, March 28 (MNA) – Russia has condemned a move by the Arab League to hand Syria’s seat to opposition forces, and called it "illegal and indefensible."

The Russian Foreign Ministry made the announcement in a statement published on Wednesday.

"In terms of international law, the league's decision on Syria is illegal and indefensible because the government of the Syrian Arab Republic was and is the legitimate representative member state at the United Nations," the statement read.

Russia also slammed the Arab League member states’ attempts to provide Syria’s foreign-backed militants with all means of support, including arms.

On Tuesday, Syrian opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib took Syria's seat as Arab leaders gathered in Doha for their annual summit.

On March 6, the Arab League called on Syria's opposition National Coalition "to form an executive body to take up Syria's seat" at the summit.

In November 2011, the Arab League suspended Syria, which is a founding member of the organization.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of Syrian army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

Damascus says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants.

NT/EA MNA END

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