(Adds quotes, context, Medvedev also spoke to Iraqi, Saudi
leaders)
MOSCOW, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The presidents of Russia
and Iran said on Wednesday the crisis in Syria must be resolved
peacefully without foreign intervention, according to a Kremlin
statement.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed "the dramatic situation developing
around Syria" by telephone a day after the United States
appeared to open the door to eventually arming rebels.
"The sides spoke out in favour of Syrians themselves
overcoming the crisis as swiftly as possible through exclusively
peaceful means, without foreign intervention," Medvedev's press
service said in a statement.
Russia has protected Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from
U.N. Security Council condemnation and potential sanctions
during nearly a year of violence most countries blame on his
government, twice vetoing resolutions along with China.
In line with Russia's position, the Kremlin said Medvedev
and Ahmadinejad called for an internal Syrian political dialogue
"without preliminary conditions" - wording that means Assad
should not be required to step down as a condition for talks.
They also called for "the continuation" of political and
socioeconomic reforms in Syria, the Kremlin said.
"The heads of state agreed that the main task now -
including in the framework of international organisations,
primarily the United Nations - is not to allow civil war, which
could destabilise the situation in the entire region."
Medvedev also spoke separately to the leaders of
Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the Kremlin said.
He told them Russia vetoed the most recent Western-Arab
draft resolution to prevent nations in the Middle East and
further afield "from using the resolution to implement a
scenario of external intervention" in Syria's affairs.
(Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Rosalind Russell)
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