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WORLD NEWSThursday 5 November 2015

Moscow calls for agreement on opposition groups in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura the U.S.-led coalition in Syria Russia and Western nations
leave a news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015. Lavrov on who should be declared
says he hopes that international peacebrokers in the coming days will agree on the list of opposi- legitimate opposition to have been engaged in in-
tion groups that should be invited to peace talks. Syrian President Bashar
Assad’s government — or tense diplomatic talks in
(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) should be targeted like the
Islamic State group. the past few weeks, aiming
NATALIYA VASILYEVA Lavrov expressed hope be invited to U.N.-brokered Lavrov told reporters in
Associated Press Wednesday that diplomats peace talks on Syria. Moscow that he hopes for to bring about a political
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian will agree on a list of op- Moscow previously lament- an agreement on the Syr- settlement in Syria, which
Foreign Minister Sergey position groups that should ed there is no agreement in ian opposition list as well as has been torn by a civil war
on a list of extremist groups since 2011 that has killed
that “will not be covered by 250,000 people and forced
a cease-fire that we hope millions to flee.
to declare at some point.” Russia has been Assad’s
Lavrov spoke after meet- strongest backer and be-
ing with U.N. Syrian envoy gan carrying out air strikes
Staffan de Mistura, who on Islamic State fighters
was in Moscow after a visit in Syria in September at
to Damascus. De Mistura Assad’s request. Assad
called on Middle Eastern made a surprise visit to Mos-
and Western nations to cow last month, which was
“use their influence” on viewed as a signal that Rus-
various opposition groups sia ultimately seeks a politi-
they back in Syria “so that cal settlement after weeks
these groups come to po- of heavy airstrikes in Syria.
litical talks with a construc- Lavrov’s deputy Mikhail
tive platform.” Bogdanov said Tuesday
He also said the U.N. is ready that Moscow is aiming to
to host talks between the host a round of talks be-
Syrian government and the tween Syrian officials and
opposition “immediately.” opposition leaders next

week. He said the Syrian

government has agreed to

participate but it’s unclear

which opposition groups
might come.q

Egypt’s president visits Britain to discuss terror and trade

DANICA KIRKA bulence and revolution. about the millions of Egyp- also discuss terrorism at a Arms Trade, which has
Associated Press We want some stability,” he tians who face hardship moment of heightened called for an end to arms
LONDON (AP) — Egypt’s said. “We don’t want to do every day? What about tensions following the crash sales to Egypt.
president defended coun- this by force or suppression. their human rights,” he said. of a Russian plane over Opposition Labour Party
ter-terror legislation that We want to regulate and “Our friends in the West the Sinai. Islamic State mili- leader Jeremy Corbyn said
has sparked human rights organize society.” should know that we face tants have claimed they the visit shows contempt
concerns, arguing his coun- El-Sissi led the July 2013 mili- monumental problems. ... “brought down” the air- for democratic rights and
try needs stability and time tary ouster of former Islamist It’s not just a matter of hu- craft to avenge those killed “threatens, rather than pro-
to achieve a democratic President Mohammed Mor- man rights from the West- as a result of Moscow’s re- tects,” Britain’s national se-
future and should not be si. ern perspective.” cent air campaign in Syria, curity.
judged by Western stan- Since then, the govern- The visit is meant to focus which is supporting Islamic “Support for dictatorial re-
dards. ment has waged a sweep- on advancing political State group adversary Pres- gimes in the Middle East
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi batted ing crackdown on Morsi’s and economic coopera- ident Bashar Assad. has been a key factor fuel-
away questions on prison- Muslim Brotherhood. Thou- tion. Britain is Egypt’s single El-Sissi deemed the claims ing the spread of terrorism,”
ers and restricted freedoms sands of political detain- largest investor and the trip to be “propaganda” and Corbyn said in a statement.
in a BBC interview aired be- ees are behind bars, and will include meetings with insisted that Egypt and the “Rather than rolling out the
fore his first official visit to human rights activists say representatives from Brit- Sinai are safe. red carpet to President
Britain on Wednesday. He the measures enshrine a ish companies to discuss But the visit has raised hu- (El-Sissi) the prime minister
said his goal was to carry permanent state of emer- enhanced cooperation in man rights concerns in should suspend arms ex-
out the will of the people. gency in Egypt. transportation, energy and Britain, and protests are ports to Egypt until demo-
“Over the past five years, “You talk about human infrastructure. planned by groups such cratic and civil rights are
we have experienced tur- rights in Egypt, but what Cameron and El-Sissi will as the Campaign Against restored.”q