Russia's position on Syria won't change after elections

Russia dampened hopes on Tuesday that the elections which returned Vladimir Putin to the presidency would soften Moscow's stance on Syria, as a top diplomat urged the West to press the Syrian opposition to stop fighting Bashar Assad's regime, Associated Press reports.

Moscow last month blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Damascus' bloody crackdown on the opposition and accused Western powers of fueling the conflict by backing the rebels.

"We are deeply convinced that we are right," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters. "That is why we call on our partners not to adopt a hard-line stance, but to seek compromise, stimulate negotiations and a political process."