China joins Russia in staying away from Syria talks

China joined Russia on Thursday in boycotting a "Friends of Syria" meeting aimed at coordinating efforts to stop violence in the country, where three senior regime officers are among the latest to be killed.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters China would not attend the Paris gathering on Friday. "(China) at present does not consider attending the meeting," he told reporters.

Russia, a long-time ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has also said it will stay away from the meeting after accusing the West of seeking to distort a weekend deal by world powers in Geneva aimed at achieving a transition of power.

Note EU-Digest: It is puzzling why China and Russia, who consider themselves to be close friends and allies of Syria are boycotting a meeting called "friends of Syria". Even if they do not agree with the agenda or the attendees of that meeting it would at least show they are flexible and don't want to be placed under the same denominator as Mr. Assad and the atrocities his regime is committing?

Read more: China joins Russia in staying away from Syria talks | Radio Netherlands Worldwide