Rouhani: Iran will accept any elected Syria ruler

[ProSense]

Rouhani: Iran will accept any elected Syria ruler

NASSER KARIMI

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's President Hasan Rouhani says his country will accept anyone as ruler of Syria who is elected by the Syrian people, the official news agency reported Monday.

His remarks carried by IRNA do not signal any change of policy on Syria but mark a shift of emphasis from comments by other Iranian leaders, which have often stressed Iran's support for its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad, and blamed the West and Israel for the rebellion against him.

"Whoever Syrian citizens vote for to rule their country, we'll agree with it," Rouhani was quoted as telling commanders of the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

Syria plans a presidential election in 2014, but few in the opposition take the vote seriously or believe it can be held amid the country's civil war.

- more -

http://news.yahoo.com/rouhani-iran-accept-elected-syria-ruler-083036720.html

[pampango]

1. Kind of an odd statement for the president of one country to make of another.

Still it may be helpful to resolving the Syrian crisis.