Russia: Moscow Can No Longer Help Al Assad - Lawmaker

Russia can no longer help Syrian President Bashar al Assad, the Kremlin's Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee chairman and special Africa envoy Mikhail Margelov said Jan. 23, Reuters reported, citing Itar-Tass. Moscow's veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution was its last instrument to help al Assad maintain the status quo, Margelov said. The situation in Syria is at a deadlock and further steps by al Assad to crack down on the opposition will lead to a large-scale civil war, Margelov said, Itar-Tass reported.