Moscow ready to host int'l conference on Syria

MOSCOW - Moscow was ready to host an international conference on Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

He said Iran should participate in such a conference, which would be held "based on clear principles."

And he urged the United States to also facilitate a settlement to the Syrian crisis.

Lavrov said last week Russia wanted to include Iran in the conference because the country could have influence on the Syrian government. Calling Iran part of the problem and not part of the solution was "thoughtless," he said.

Lavrov said Russia saw no alternative to the peace plan brokered by the UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan and suggested making it more "detailed" and "specified."