Russian, Syrian FMs: US strike on Syria risks emboldening terrorists

Russian and Syrian foreign ministers warned Monday that a U.S. military strike against the Middle East country would embolden terrorists. A U.S. attack on Syria could lead to the spread of terrorism, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after holding talks with his visiting Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem. "We believe it is absolutely necessary to respect international law and agreements reached. That applies to the necessity to thorough investigate all reports about use of chemical weapons," Lavrov told reporters. He said Russia possessed "plentiful" evidence that chemical weapons in Syria were used by the armed opposition and not the government troops. "There are eyewitness' testimonies of the outrageous actions of armed militants ... there are online video footage posted by the militants themselves so that they can boast of their conduct," said Lavrov. "There are also professional opinions - for instance, UN investigation commission member Carla del Ponte said she had information about the use of chemical warfare agents by the militants," he added. The Russian diplomat also said opportunities for a political solution to the Syria crisis remain even despite the current grave conditions. "We do not rule out the possibility to invite everyone interested in peace and in a political settlement in Syria to Moscow," he said. Moualem, for his part, said the United States wanted to unleash an attack against Syria on behalf of terrorist groups related to al-Qaida, and that was "an aggression." The Syrian government, he said, was still prepared to participate in the Geneva-II conference without any preconditions. Noting that "the drumbeat of war is heard from the United States," Moualem said he did not know what may happen after a U.S. strike, probably a missile attack.