Canada protests Russian arms support to Syria

By ROB GILLIES

The Associated Press

TORONTO — A senior Canadian government official says Canada lodged a formal protest with Russia for supplying arms to the Assad regime in Syria.

The official said Wednesday Canada's embassy in Moscow delivered a protest note to the Russian foreign ministry. He spoke on condition on anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

The official says Canada thinks an arms embargo by Russia would send a strong signal to the international community that the Russians do not condone the abhorrent actions of the Assad regime.

Russia, a close ally of Syria, and the West are heading down starkly different paths in trying to deal with Syria's nearly 11 months of bloodshed.

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February 08, 2012 07:56 PM EST

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