Iranian VP, Algerian PM discuss Syria over phone

Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal in a telephone conversation discussed the latest developments in Syria, and underlined the necessity for the rapid cessation of hostilities in the country. During the phone talk on Wednesday, Rahimi and Sellal conferred on regional and international issues, including Syria. The two sides also stressed the necessity for the stop of violence in Syria, and described political solution and talks as the most appropriate way to settle the Syrian crisis. Sellal noted that the Algerian foreign minister is slated to attend the 'Friends of Syria Conference' meeting in Tehran today. The Friends of Syria Conference opened in Tehran on Wednesday to study ways of resolving the Syrian unrest through political means. Iran has invited different regional and international actors to the conference, the foreign ministry announced. "Representatives of Russia and China will be present in the meeting and Tehran has invited different states, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which hold different positions (from that of Iran on Syria) to attend the conference," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Sunday. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against Syrian forces and civilians being reported across the country. The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States. The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May 2012 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States. The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure. Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said last May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.