Russia says demands that Assad quit prolong Syrian conflict

Russia says demands that Assad quit prolong Syrian conflict: MOSCOW (Reuters) - Demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad quit power are blocking efforts to end the 16-month-old conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Thursday. Lavrov said such calls - made by the United States, several European and Arab governments and Turkey - were fanning the flames of violence and reiterated Moscow's claim that support for Syrian rebel groups was tantamount to backing terrorism. "We propose things that would allow for an immediate ceasefire, but the other side says, 'No, either the regime capitulates or we will continue to back ... ...

Rights Advocate Lyudmila Alekseyeva is Talking and Laughing

Rights Advocate Lyudmila Alekseyeva is Talking and Laughing 

Published on Jul 26, 2012 by rferlonline

Human rights activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva turned 85 on July 20. She spoke to RFE/RL's Russian Service on her birthday about her long career as a dissident and rights campaigner.

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PUTIN IN AN APPEARANCE

PUTIN IN AN APPEARANCE

That guy next to you at the judo competition, the one surrounded by security? Could well be Russian President Vladimir Putin. Don't mess with him; he's not only well guarded, he's also a black belt in judo.

Putin has said he plans to come to London in a private capacity and watch the judo. He's often been filmed practicing and once recorded an instructional judo DVD.

Judo at the 2012 games starts Saturday.

http://news.yahoo.com/eyes-london-cool-camera-beatle-putin-153310119--oly.html