Salehi criticizes Friends of Syria conf.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday rejected the statement of the Friends of Syria Conference, held in Tunis on Friday, saying that a solution to the 11-month-long crisis in the Arab country should be remote from any foreign intervention. Iran is against any foreign intervention in the domestic affairs of Syria or any pressures on the Syrian government, Salehi said during his meeting with visiting Lebanese Minister of Defense Fayez Ghosn here. He noted that the Western pressures on Syria stemmed from the firm stances of the Syrian government in support of the anti-Israeli resistance movements in the Middle East region. Meanwhile, the minister stated support to the reforms being made by the Syrian government to meet the demands of the people, according to an IRNA report. Salehi also condemned the Western powers for using double standards in handling major issues of the Muslim world foremost among which is the Palestine question. On his part, the Lebanese minister said his country is also opposed to foreign interventions in neighboring Syria, voicing hope that the Syrian people and government would be able to overcome the current crisis as early as possible. Representatives of more than 60 countries and regional international organizations agreed in Tunis conference to carry on pressurizing the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in order to allow democratic transition in the country and delivery of relief aid for the civilians.