Syria warns against no-fly zone

MSNBC.com has reported that Russia will be sending troops to Syria amid escalating violence in the country, according to United States military officials.

The officials told NBC News today about the move, which could frustrate Western efforts to put pressure on the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Moscow has sent a ship carrying a small contingent of combat forces to guard Russia’s deep-water port and military base at the Syrian city of Tartus, the US officials said.

Read the full story at MSNBC.com.

The chief U.N. monitor in Syria says there is a move towards military gains in the country rather than a willingness for peaceful transition.

Norwegian Major-General Robert Mood, who leads the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, said:

Mood did not specify whether he was referring to President Bashar al-Assad or rebels fighting the embattled leader, but later implied he was referring to both sides.

Russia is not discussing plans for a Syrian political transformation that would follow the exit of President Bashar al-Assad, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today.

He emphasised Moscow's position that the country's future is up to Syrians themselves to decide without external pressure.

"As for assertions that we are holding some sort of talks on the fate of Syria after Bashar al-Assad, I can repeat that this is not true.

"We do not get involved in overthrowing regimes - neither through approval of unilateral actions by the U.N. Security Council nor by participation in any political plots," Lavrov said.

The Syrian town of Haffeh was left smouldering and nearly deserted yesterday after days of clashes between government forces and rebels, while activists reported more army assaults on pro-opposition areas across the country.

United Nations monitors had been trying to enter the town after several days of fighting but were forced to turn back on Tuesday when a crowd attacked them.

They finally gained access on Thursday to find buildings burnt down, shops abandoned and a body lying in the street. Only a handful of residents could be seen and one man said 26,000 people had fled.