Russian envoy meets Assad''s adviser in effort to mediate Syrian unrest

(12 Sep 2011)
1. Mid of talks between Syrian delegation and Russian delegation
2. Mid of Russian delegation, including Ilyas Umakhanov, vice-speaker of the Federation Council (speaking), and Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee (foreground, right)
3. Mid of Syrian delegates, including Syrian envoy and adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad, Bouthaina Shaaban
4. Wide of meeting
5. Wide of news conference held after talks
6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ilyas Umakhanov, Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council:
"Russia''s role is to exclude the scenario when any form of interference, including a military one, will lead to the escalation of violence or will lead to huge civilian casualties. Russia''s role is to promote internal Syrian dialogue as much as possible."
7. Cutaway of audience
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian envoy:
"According to my information, the number of casualties amounts to 700-700, that is seven hundred from the government side and seven hundred from the other side."
9. Wide of audience and media
STORYLINE
Senior Russian officials on Monday met a delegation from Syria to try to mediate in the ongoing violent crackdown on the opposition by Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Ilyas Umakhanov, vice-speaker of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, said he was seeking to prevent further bloodshed in Syria and promote internal dialogue.
Earlier in the day, Mikhail Margelov, head of the council''s international relations committee, said Russia does not want the Libyan scenario to be repeated in Syria, a long-standing Russian ally in the Middle East.
Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Assad who was part of the Syrian delegation at the talks, rejected the UN death toll of at least 2,600.
"According to my information, the number of casualties amounts to 700-700, that is seven hundred from the government side and seven hundred from the other side," she told reporters.
Speaking in Geneva on Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the figure of at least 2, 600 was based on "reliable sources on the ground."
Syria has disputed the accounts of civilian deaths and says the regime is fighting terrorists and thugs - not true reform seekers.
Syrian protesters are increasingly calling for some sort of outside help - although not necessarily military action like the NATO intervention in Libya.
Instead, they are calling for observation missions and human rights monitors who could help deter attacks on civilians.

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