AP/ October 1, 2012, 1:59 PM

Syria: U.N. Council members backing "terrorism"

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, October 1, 2012.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem speaks during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, October 1, 2012. / TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

UNITED NATIONS Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem accused some U.N. Security Council members Monday of supporting "terrorism" in the country in a speech clearly aimed at the U.S. and its allies who support the opposition.

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, al-Moallem said peace requires Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya and others to stop arming, financing and supporting the opposition — as well as by Syria. He also alluded to the anti-Islam video that provoked violent demonstrations around the Muslim world.

"This terrorism which is externally supported is accompanied by unprecedented media provocation based on igniting religious extremism sponsored by well-known states in the region that facilitate the flow of arms, money and fighters through the borders of some neighboring countries," he said.

The Security Council's major powers remain deeply divided over the 18-month Syria conflict. Russia and China, key backers of Syrian President Bashar Assad, have vetoed three resolutions by the U.S., Britain and France who back the opposition and have called for Assad to be replaced.

Al-Moallem insisted that some countries are interfering in Syrian domestic affairs.

"We heard calls from this podium, and on other platforms, some calls from those who are ignorant of the facts or maybe ignoring them, or also from those who are shareholders in exacerbating them, that invites the President of the Syrian Arab Republic to step down," he said. "This is a blatant interference in the domestic affairs of Syria, and the unity of its people and its sovereignty."

Al-Moallem called for a political solution and Syrian-led dialogue to agree on a roadmap to "a more pluralistic and democratic Syria."

He invited the opposition to "work together to stop the shedding of Syrian blood."

© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
8 Comments Add a Comment
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MonkeyTree1 says:
NO JOBS - NO PLAN - NO HOPE - NO CHANGE
NO SECOND TERM

TIME for the Lying, Thieving Dog Obama to GO HOME!!

VOTE FOR ROMENY
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Mick_from_Amsterdam says:
Syria is a nation comprised almost entirely of terrorists...

It must be...since all opponents of the Assad regime are "terrorists" and as such, have been righteously bombed and killed in their thousands...

Terrorist men...terrorist women...terrorist children...lots of terrorist children

This Assad desperately needs to be dead...now

So that millions of Syrian "terrorists" might live without constant fear and dread of their own government
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BWB2020 replies:
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That is the exact same tactic the US used in Afghanistan and Iraq, to call anyone who didn't like, and resisted our invading and committing genocide against them "terrorists".

It was the Bush who redefined the term "terrorist", it used to mean "military action against a civilian population, designed to instill fear in a populace", but all of a sudden acts against an invading, occupying, hostile military force, are now called "terrorism", and so Assad simply plays according to Bush's new definition.

If you are, as you say from Amsterdam, then you have "halemaal geen recht" (absolutely no right) to say who needs to be dead in their own country, it is up to the Syrians themselves to deal with it without outside interference.
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gwrigley says:
Quincy has it right on the money. US interference in foreign countries is a disaster. The very people we are supporting are the same religious fanatics we will have to fight later. We should have learned the lesson from those we taught to fight the Russians in the 80s. They came back to haunt us. How about minding our own business, wouldn't that be a novel idea.
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Martha12345 says:
The UN is a joke. End of story.
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MrsHippy says:
Assad has his loyalists doesn't he. Some people stand for anything as long as they can maintain their grip on power. Personally, I think the United States should target Assad with a missile and then once he's gone let the Syrians fight it out amongst themselves!
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quincytodd replies:
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Such is to be expected from someone like you with your obvious limitations! You sound like some run of the mill Tea Partier condemning the Syrians without any insight. Do you always let this government do all your thinking for you? The Syrian foreign minister is quite right about all this outside interference on behalf of the so-called "rebels".
MrsHippy replies:
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Quincy take your Anti-American rhetoric and go blow yourself up!
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