US provokes Syrian opposition into hardline stance

The United States effectively provoked the Syrian opposition into hardline stance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday. "The United States claimed it will continue pressing the Syrian government, including toughening its sanctions. (Washington) directly advised what the Syrian opposition should do to form a government-in-exile, who should joint such a government," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement. Moscow argued that statements from Washington contradicted the Geneva agreement, which requires all sides in Syria to stop violence and start negotiations for political transition. Moscow kept working with Syrian authorities and the opposition, and urged them to implement the Geneva agreement, Lukashevich said. Russia also called on international efforts to persuade the Syrian opposition into peace dialogue.