Russia angry over 'blame' on Syria

[July 20, 2012]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Moscow bristled at the West for its attempts to "put the blame" on Russia for escalating the Syrian civil war, hours after Moscow vetoed a Western-backed United Nations resolution aimed at pressuring President Bashar Assad's government to end the war.

Russia was adamantly opposed to any mention of Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, which could eventually allow the use of force to end the conflict in Syria.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in televised remarks that the attempts of "certain Western countries" to blame Russia for the escalation of the Syrian conflict because of Moscow's refusal to support the resolution are "absolutely unacceptable."

Moscow remains a key backer of President Bashar Assad and has for months resisted Western sanctions against his regime.

[Associated Press]

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