Russia expressed opposition to sanctions against Syria's government on Friday and said it needs more information about a French proposal for "humanitarian corridors" in the country before taking a position.
"At the current stage, what is needed is not resolutions, not sanctions, not pressure, but internal Syrian dialogue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
He spoke as Syria faced a Friday deadline to sign an Arab deal allowing monitors into the country or incur sanctions over its crackdown on protests including halting flights, curbing trade and stopping deals with the central bank. The Arab League approved the sanctions on Sunday.
(Reuters)