By Khabar Online


Politics -�Iran�s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic has started contacting some Syrian opposition groups in a bid to lay the groundwork for a ceasefire in the war-wracked Arab country.


�As of today, we have [begun] contacting some [Syrian] opposition groups about [their] readiness for [talks about] ceasefire,� Salehi told a joint news conference with his Central African counterpart in Tehran on Sunday.

He noted that Tehran is ready to set the stage for dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition groups.

�We hope that the [Syrian] opposition would enter talks with the Syrian government,� the Iranian minister said.

On October 16, the UN and Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi called on Iran to help achieve a ceasefire in Syria during the four-day Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

Brahimi said a ceasefire, timed to coincide with the Eid al-Adha starting October 25, �would help create an environment that would allow a political process to develop.�

Syria has been the scene of unrest since March 2011. Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country and accuses Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey of arming the insurgents.

 

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