Syrian government soldiers patrol Aleppo streets devastated by fierce fighting.<br/> <br />The conflict here has come to a stalemate, with little ground gained in the daily skirmishes on both sides.<br/> <br />Syrians fleeing the conflict say they do not support the rebels or President Bashar al-Assad.<br/> <br />Instead, they have called on the international community to step in to end the violence.<br/> <br />But on Saturday, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country refused to support sanctions against Syria.<br/> <br />In a press conference at the APEC meeting in Vladivostok, he said sanctions proposed by Western states are becoming yet more wide ranging and will directly hit Russian business.<br/> <br />He added that his country would support joint talks between Syria's government and opposition groups.<br/> <br />Syria's bloody 17-month uprising has seen tens of thousands killed and many more seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
