Russia accuses Friends of Syria Group of encouraging extremists

 • The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the resolution encourages extremists to seize power by force.

 • Lukashevich said the int'l community has understood that there was no military solution to the conflict.

 • Moscow saw it the primary task to stop bloodshed immediately and initiate a political dialogue, he said.

MOSCOW, Mar. 1 (Xinhua) -- A resolution made by the Friends of Syria Group encourages extremists to seize power by force, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Friday.

"Judging by the reports, the decision made in Rome on Thursday and the statements from there directly encourage the (Syrian) extremists to seize power by force, regardless of inevitable sufferings of ordinary Syrians," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the official website.

The diplomat said that the international community has already understood that there was no military solution to the Syrian conflict.

Moscow saw it the primary task to stop bloodshed immediately and initiate a political dialogue.

"We are convinced that it should guarantee peaceful and democratic development of the united Syria in the interests of all its citizens with no exception," Lukashevich said.

Representatives from dozens of nations gathered in Rome to discuss rendering more support to the Syrian opposition. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that his country would send the Syrian opposition an additional 60 million U.S. dollars in non- lethal aid.

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