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Russia sees no victory for opposition

A Syrian man looks at damaged buildings in downtown Homs, Syria, March 21, 2012. Homs was the site of heavy clashes between rebels and Syrian troops earlier this month. Dozens died in a month-long shelling on the area in February. UPI
A Syrian man looks at damaged buildings in downtown Homs, Syria, March 21, 2012. Homs was the site of heavy clashes between rebels and Syrian troops earlier this month. Dozens died in a month-long shelling on the area in February. UPI | License Photo

DAMASCUS, Syria, April 4 (UPI) -- Russia's foreign minister said Wednesday there is no way the Syrian opposition will be able to overthrow the Assad government.

"Even if the Syrian opposition is armed to the teeth it will not be able to beat government forces," Sergei Lavrov told the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

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The Russian foreign minister said those "egging on" the opposition are not helping the settlement process.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has said he will withdraw his forces from population centers by April 10 but opposition forces are skeptical that he will do so.

A UN peacekeeping team is headed to Damascus Thursday for talks on deploying observers to monitor the planned cease-fire, CNN reported.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces pummeled the beleaguered city of Homs again Wednesday morning.

Military aircraft renewed bpmbing of the opposition-held city of Taftanaz while residents of the nearby city of Binnish were reported to be fleeing.

In Hama, a resident sent a video showing tanks and heavy military vehicles moving into the town.

The opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said at least 74 people were killed across the country Tuesday.

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