Iran To Hold 1st Syria Contact Group Meet In New York

New York, Sept 26, IRNA – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reported Iran's consultation with relevant countries to hold the first Syria contact group in New York in the near future. He made the remarks in an interview with some Associated Press editors on Tuesday evening local time. 'The first meeting of the Syria contact group will be held in New York in the near future; Iranian officials are consulting with relevant countries and 11 states are expected to attend it.' Ahmadinejad noted that since Iran believes negotiation between Syrian government and its opposition is the only solution to the crisis, Tehran is doing its best to bring them on the negotiation table. President refused the military option to solve the political crisis in Damascus and urged the government and the opposition to negotiate. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country. Thousands of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies are seeking hard to bring the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope of increasing unrest in Syria. /end