European Union officials will meet the Russian president today in Moscow with the Syrian crisis as the main issue to discuss. Damascus blames "foreign plot" for events in the country. Some fear Assad might be behind clashes in Tripoli, Lebanon, between residents of Sunni and Alawi neighbourhoods.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - Europe is putting pressure on Russia to convince Syria's president to quit or at least implement the peace plan elaborated by Kofi Annan. However, Bashar al-Assad continues to blame "external forces" for his country's crisis, which is now threatening its neighbour Lebanon. Increasingly, the crisis in the Mideast country is turning into a full-blown civil war that could enflame the entire region.

In view of this possibility, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton will try to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to change his unconditional support for the Syrian regime. The European leaders are also expected to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme and bilateral relations.

In Syria, nothing has changed. In a speech yesterday to Syria's newly elected parliament, Assad said, "Not distinguishing between political process and terrorism is a great mistake".

Insisting that his regime was not responsible for the violence, he said that Syria faced a plot to destroy the country and that terrorism was escalating, despite political reforms.

Assad denied any responsibility for the Houla massacre, despite the international consensus that led the Human Rights Council to condemn Damascus for the incident three days.

Violence in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli is raising concerns even more. An uneasy calm prevails today following the intervention of Lebanese troops and security forces (pictured) in the neighbourhoods of Bab al Tabbaneh, a predominantly Sunni and anti-Assad area, and Jabal Mohesn, mostly Alawi, and pro-Syrian regime.

The military moved in after clashes over the weekend claimed the lives of 14 people and scores of wounded.

Gunshots were also hear overnight. One person was wounded. A general strike was also proclaimed for today.

A lawmaker with pro-Syrian Shia Hizbollah blamed Sunni 14 March Movement for the tensions. He said the violence was due to "foreign security violations".

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal warned that events in Tripoli are a sign that the Syrian crisis could be widening as Assad tries to warn the international community that he could ignite a new civil war in Lebanon with unforeseeable consequences on the region's fragile balance. (PD)

 

• syria
• civil
• war
• european
• union
• russia
• putin
• assad