Through his foreign ministry, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government is open to sitting down and discussing peace with members of the armed opposition force.
The statement came via Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, who was in Moscow on Monday, for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, according to a report by the Voice of America.
Mr. Lavrov, according to various media reports, said last week that continued fighting in Syria would lead to a "mutual destruction" of government and rebel forces.
The statements came a day after opposition fighters reported government forces attacking the rebel strongholds of Damascus and Aleppo.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
Great discoveries in the world of restaurants and chefs fulfill the quest for delicious food and cooking.
Paul Rondeau dissects the propaganda, media tricks, and other shenanigans targeting our families, faith, and freedom…and even life itself
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
