Russia ‘ready for Syria opposition talks’

Russia has agreed to hold talks with Syria’s opposition leaders, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.He said contact with the opposition was made through diplomats in Egypt, and he urged President Bashar al-Assad to also open talks with the rebels.But Syria’s opposition has rejected the offer and said Russia should apologise for backing Mr Assad.Meanwhile dozens of Syrian army officers, including two Air Force commanders, have reportedly defected.As many as 55 army officers are reported to have crossed the border into southern Turkey.Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Mr Lavrov confirmed that his government had contacted the Syrian National Coalition through the Russian Embassy in Egypt.He said Russia had “expressed readiness to conduct a meeting” with opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.This did not mean Russia recognised the opposition, Mr Lavrov said.Earlier this month, Russia criticised the US for joining other Western nations in formally recognising the Syrian opposition as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.But Moscow also conceded for the first time that the Syrian government may lose the conflict.“We are consistently working with the regime and all the opposition groups without exception,” Mr Lavrov said.“We are telling them the same thing: ‘You have to think of your people, of your country. You should agree on a ceasefire. Sit down at the negotiating table.’”The Syrian opposition has rejected Mr Lavrov’s offer for talks.Mr Lavrov said his government had held talks with Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Maqdad on Thursday, and had urged him to arrange a meeting with the opposition.