Business Standard

Kerry demands Russia halt Syria bombing after talks suspended

Image

AFP London
US Secretary of State John Kerry demanded today that Russia stop bombing the Syrian opposition, implicitly blaming Moscow for the collapse in peace talks.

Speaking in London ahead of a conference on the Syrian humanitarian effort, Kerry said he had called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for a "robust" discussion.

In Geneva yesterday, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura suspended attempts to begin a dialogue between Bashar al-Assad's regime and the Syrian opposition.

Alongside Britain's Foreign Minister Phillip Hammond, Kerry read out sections of UN Security Council resolution 2254, passed in December, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

"Russia has a responsibility, as do all parties, to live up to it," he said.
 

"So I had a conversation this morning with Foreign Minister Lavrov. We discussed, and we agreed, that we need to discuss how to implement the ceasefire."

Kerry also said that both parties to the conflict - the rebels and the regime and its allies - must allow access to besieged areas for humanitarian aid.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Feb 04 2016 | 6:08 PM IST

Explore News