MORSY SUGGESTS INITIATIVE TO RESOLVE SYRIAN CRISIS

        Moscow, 10 Jumadil Akhir 1434/19 April 2013 (MINA) – President Mohamed Morsy, during an interview with the official Russian news source, Itar-Tass, proposed an initiative that he said could resolve the crisis in Syria.

       The president had earlier proposed the formation of a quartet including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran to step in to negotiate an end to the conflict, but in the interview, he proposed expanding the initiative to include Russia, Qatar, China and the European Union.

        “We must act quickly, as blood is being shed every day,” he said, adding that the Syrian crisis affects the region, Russia and the whole world, according to Ahram report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

       At least 70,000 have been killed in campaigns by the Syrian army against demonstrations that broke out in 2011 to demand the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

      On Thursday 18 April, Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented 111 victims, including 13 children, 7 woman, 3 tortured to death, 42 armed rebels. 

      Egypt calls on Assad to step down, while Russia supports the Syrian president and rejects foreign military intervention.

        Morsy is on a two-day visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

       On his first visit as Egyptian president, Morsi brings ministerial team along to discuss investment, petrol, agriculture, electricity and energy with Russian ministers.

       President Mohamed Morsi and a ministerial delegation departed from Cairo Airport for Russia on Thursday morning, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reports.(T/P03/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)