Russia Warns Resolution on Syria Could Spark 'Civil War'

Russia on Tuesday warned that passing a Western-backed U.N. resolution on Syria vehemently opposed by Moscow would risk paving the way towards civil war in the country.

"The Western draft of the Security Council's resolution on Syria will not help in the search for a compromise," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on his Twitter account.

"Pushing it through is the path towards civil war," he added.

Gatilov on Monday said Russia would not back a new draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria supported by Western states, despite growing pressure on Moscow to take a harder line against the regime of Bashar Assad.