Russia Favors Syrian Solution to Political Crisis

Russia says Syria needs a period of political transition but has rejected calls for President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power in a possible formation of a unity government. Meanwhile, there has been a powerful explosion near the country’s main court in Damascus.

Thursday’s developments came as neighboring Turkey deployed troops and anti-aircraft batteries to the Syrian border following the downing of one of its military jets by Syrian forces last week. In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any solution to the crisis in Syria must be decided by Syrians themselves and that Russia would not support external “meddling.” Syrian opposition groups said Thursday they would not accept any proposed political transition plan that does not explicitly require Assad to step down.