US, Germany criticize Russia over Syria arms

The United States and Germany on Friday criticized Russian deliveries of weapons to the Syrian regime, warning of their impact on efforts to peacefully end Syria's conflict. US Secretary of State John Kerry referred to an alleged shipment of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, saying it was "not helpful to have the S-300s transferred to the region" while the US and other countries are organizing a peace conference expected to be held in Geneva in June. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who spoke at a joint press conference with Kerry in Washington, said the delivery of weapons to Bashar Al-Assad's regime was "totally wrong." Washington and Moscow unveiled earlier in May a plan to bring both Damascus and the opposition to the negotiating table to bring to an end Syria's 26-month-old conflict, which the United Nations estimates has killed at least 80,000 people, according to a report of DPA.