MOSCOW, October 3 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow strongly condemned terrorist acts in Syria that can provoke dangerous confrontation and even a civil war in that country, the Foreign Ministry said.
“On October 2, armed rebels shot dead Saria Hussein, a son of Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, Syria's chief Sunni religious figure, near Ebla University in Idlib. Prof. Omar also fell victim to the attack,” the ministry said on Monday, October 3.
“This is not the first crime of the kind. A series of assassination attacks were made in the last several days against civilians who advocate a non-violent way of the crisis through negotiations, as well as members of their families… including scientists, teachers and other Syrian intellectuals, and civil servants,” the ministry said.
“Moscow strongly condemns these terrorist acts. We offer our condolences to Mufti Ahmad Hassoun and the families of those killed… we are deeply convinced that terrorist methods as a part of the strategy aimed at forcible change of the existing regime in Syria can only provoke dangerous confrontation and even a civil with all the ensuing disastrous consequences both for Syria itself and for the whole world,” the ministry said.
“We confirm our call to all constructive forces in the Syrian opposition to decisively distance themselves from terrorist methods and violence and embark on a path of dialogue with the authorities. We are convinced that this is the only way to realise the legitimate hopes of the Syrian people for a better future and ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the country,” the ministry said.