Disagreements remain on Syria with China, Russia, Obama says

20 June 2012, 04:20 (GMT+05:00)

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US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that differences remain with China and Russia over Syria, but that Beijing and Moscow recognize the danger of a civil war, DPA reported.

"I don't think it would be fair to say that the Russians and Chinese are signed on at this point," Obama told reporters at the Group of 20 summit after holding bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

But he said both agreed on the need to prevent "an all out civil war" and that the current situation did not serve the Syrian people.

Before meeting with Hu after the summit, the US leader said he hoped they could find a solution to "end the bloodshed and arrive at the kind of legitimate government that I think we all hope for."

Obama held a meeting with Putin a day earlier in which the pair agreed on the need for a Syrian ceasefire. Their post-meeting joint appearance was marked by chilly body language.