Wen Jiabao says 'China will absolutely not protect Syrian government'

Beijing, Feb 15 (ANI): Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said that it will not protect the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"China will absolutely not protect any party, including the government of Syria," Jiabao said as he addressed a joint news conference in Beijing with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

Jiabao insisted that China will remain committed to bring peace in Syria, and would "continue to play a constructive role".

"What is most urgent and pressing now is to prevent war and chaos so that the Syrian people will be freed from greater sufferings," The BBC quoted Jiabao, as saying.

"This accords with the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and also will contribute to the peace and stability of the entire Middle East region," he said.

"To achieve this objective, China supports all efforts consistent with the UN charter purposes and principles, and we are ready to strengthen communication with all parties in Syria and the international community and continue to play a constructive role," he added.

China and Russia recently vetoed a UN resolution on Syria that demanded Assad to step down in the wake of his bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protestors.

On Monday, the United Nations' human rights chief, Navi Pillay, said the veto by China and Russia had encouraged Assad's government to carry out indiscriminate shelling of civilians in Homs. (ANI)