7 Jun 2012 13:38

Deciding fate of al-Assad regime is a matter for Syrian people - Russian diplomat

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - Moscow is not insisting on keeping the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in power in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told journalists on Thursday.

It is up to the Syrian people to decide on its fate, he said.

"It is not our question. It is a matter for Syrian political and social forces," Bogdanov said.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said earlier that Washington would continue making attempts to persuade Moscow that al-Assad's departure was key to resolving the crisis in Syria.