PARIS (AP) —Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called Tuesday for international pressure on Syria's leadership over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests — but said Iraq-style international intervention would only make matters worse.
Russia has been resistant to a new Western-backed draft U.N. resolution condemning Syria’s government.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday that his country remains firmly opposed to such a resolution.
However, Putin — who brought Medvedev to power and still dominates Russian politics — said Tuesday that "we need to apply pressure on the leadership of any country where massive unrest, and especially bloodshed, is happening."
He called for a political solution in Syria, and said Russian officials are working on this at the United Nations, without elaborating.
"Russia understands and acknowledges that in the modern world it is impossible to use political instruments of 40 years ago. This concerns all countries, including Syria. I hope the Syrian leadership understands this, and will make the necessary conclusions," he told a news conference.
He dismissed talk of a Russian alliance with Syria, saying their close ties dated to the Soviet era and that no "special relationship" remains now with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
He spoke strongly against international intervention. Russia has said NATO went too far in interpreting the U.N. resolution authorizing international involvement in Libya.
"The development of the situation in certain countries of the region shows that their situation is not improving because of our efforts to lead the process," Putin said.
"Look at what is happening in Iraq. What, has total peace arrived there? There they never had any extremists. Yes there was another regime, abnormal and silly, perhaps, but there were no extremists. And now the whole country is run by warlords. So has it gotten better? Of course not."
