Russia supports diplomacy in Syria

Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, says the envoy led by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan may be last chance to avoid civil war in Syria.

Annan was in Moscow today and met with Medvedev and Russia’s foreign minister. Medvedev told Annan he has Russia’s full support.

Russia, along with China, have protected Syrian leader Bashar Assad from U.N. sanctions, which have been spearheaded by the United States. Annan will travel to China next to try to garner more support.

Syria is Moscow’s last remaining ally in the region, and is a major buyer of Russia’s arms industry. Recently, however, Russia has grown impatient with Assad for his violent suppression of resistance groups who are demanding an end to his rule.