Russia ‘deeply’ concerned over attacks in Syria

Russia says it is “deeply” concerned over increased terrorist attacks on civilians in Syria ahead of the Arab country’s presidential election.

“Criminal activities by illegal armed groups against the civilian population (in Syria) have reached unsurpassed levels of violence in recent days,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the statement, militant attacks have left 150 Syrians dead so far this week ahead of the presidential vote due to be held next month.

The Syrian people will go to the polls on June 3 to elect their next president as Damascus has insisted that it would hold the vote despite the foreign-backed militancy that has plagued the country for more than three years.

Moscow also urged all influential countries to help find a diplomatic solution to the bloody conflict in Syria.

All prominent powers in Syria should “take a clear and unequivocal position towards the end of the conflict and to achieve an agreement through dialogue without interference,” the statement noted.

On Tuesday, people in the al-Sirian and Mahatet Baghdad neighborhoods of Aleppo held massive pro-government demonstrations, voicing support for the country’s army, which has been battling foreign-backed militants since 2011.

They also expressed support for the forthcoming presidential election.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 150,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by Western-backed militants.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.