Kremlin pressed on Syrian stance

MOSCOW, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The Kremlin is being called on to change its stance to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, a member of an opposition movement said.

The United Nations estimates more than 3,500 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Syria since an uprising against Assad began in mid-March. The U.N. Security Council, however, has been unable to pass a resolution condemning the violence due in large part to objections from Beijing and Moscow.

Burhan Ghalioun, head of the opposition Syrian National Council called on Moscow to reverse course.

"It is about time the Russian leadership changed its stance towards a regime which is still ignoring calls to launch reforms and start dialogue with the opposition on a peaceful transition to democracy," he was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying.

Despite the mounting death toll in Syria and its increased international isolation, the Russian government said its military arms trade with Damascus was still active.

Ghalioun said Tuesday from the offices of the Interfax news agency in Moscow that he wanted U.N. peacekeepers in place to stem the violence in Syria.

Members of the Syrian opposition were pelted with eggs last week in Cairo. Analysts said the opposition is divided along pro- and anti-interventionists camps.

Damascus said Tuesday it released more than 1,000 prisoners "who didn't commit murder."