Russia accused the West of provocative behavior in the Syrian crisis

Russia on Monday accused the West of provocative behavior in the Syrian crisis, saying Western countries were telling the opposition to forget dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad.
  
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the West's behavior in this respect was "similar to a political provocation at an international level", news agencies reported.
  
He complained that while the Arab League had called for a halt to violence in Syria, Western capitals had been telling the opposition to refrain from dialogue with Assad.
  
Lavrov said Russia was certain that outside support for Syria's opposition was creating more unrest throughout the region. "This surely creates the temptation for various groups in neighboring countries, countries in the Middle East, to try and use this situation to their own interests," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
  
But putting some pressure on Assad's regime as well, he added that countries should be pressing the Syrian leadership "to halt its disproportionate use of force."