Syrian government says ready to talk to armed opposition - agency

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Monday Damascus was ready to talk to the country's armed opposition, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.

"We are ready for dialogue with everyone who wants it ... Even with those who have weapons in their hands. Because we believe that reforms will not come through bloodshed but only through dialogue," he said before talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.