Syria: 'Cold war & crusades never finished' says Middle East Consultant

Russia's assessment of the cause of the Syrian unrest points the finger of blame firmly at an armed opposition. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also says it's time to stop dealing in ultimatums and get back to peace talks.

A UN investigation earlier stated that Syrian forces had committed crimes against humanity in their brutal treatment of anti-government demonstrators. Almost 4,000 people have been killed after months of unrest. The EU is tightening the economic screws on the Syrian regime and is considering an arms embargo - something Moscow strongly opposes. For more RT talks to Peter Eyre, a Middle East Consultant, joining from Birmingham in the UK.