NEWS FLASH

Assad Promises Peace As Syrian Military Shells Homs | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today that Moscow wants to see democratic reforms in Syria. Russia’s foreign ministry called for “the swiftest stabilization of the situation in Syria on the basis of the swiftest implementation of democratic reforms whose time has come.” After the meeting, Lavrov said Assad is “completely committed” to stopping the violence, yet at the same time, Syrian forces were continuing their assault on Homs. The message from Moscow, one of Syria’s few allies, came three days after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution backing an Arab League plan for Assad to step down from power and initiate a political transition.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Damascus, Syria on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP)