MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia stepped up its defence of Damascus on Monday in a dispute with the West over delays in the elimination of Syria's chemical arsenal, saying that President Bashar al-Assad's government was not to blame and that a June deadline could still be met.
In an interview with Reuters, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said there was no need to put "political pressure" on Damascus because the delays were the result of a difficult security situation and logistical issues.
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