Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday that the European Union's decision to lift an arms embargo to the Syrian opposition undermines the efforts of both Russia and the US to mediate peace talks in Geneva next month.

Sergei Ryabkov lashed out at the move, calling it "a manifestation of double standards".

"This directly harms the prospects of convening an international conference," he said.

AP-AFP

(China Daily 05/29/2013 page12)