US paper: Assad will flee to Moscow

A leading US newspaper states that embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has received an offer to claim asylum in Russia. The Washington Post reported that Assad received two offers to take refuge with his family from Russia and Iran. Assad is expected to choose Moscow as a refugee, where he has allegedly stored $6 billion of Syrian cash reserves, arguing that "this is a plan to prevent Assad from being tried for war crimes he has committed." The newspaper added: “The road map submitted by Kofi Annan to find a solution to the conflict in the country requires creating an international liaison with the permanent members of the Security Council as well as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and probably Qatar. This group has to put a transitional plan for the construction of a new system after the departure of Assad, based on presidential and parliamentary elections and drafting a new constitution, according to a specific timetable.” The paper also said the plan was to be presented to Assad and the opposition for approval.