Summary Russian PM warned that if Arab forces entered the Syrian war they could spark a "new world war".
MUNICH (AFP) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday that if Arab forces entered the Syrian war they could spark a "new world war" and urged ceasefire talks instead.
Asked about proposals by some Arab countries to enter the conflict under a US command, Medvedev said, "that would be bad because ground offensives usually lead to wars becoming permanent".
"The Americans and our Arabic partners must think hard about this: do they want a permanent war?" he was quoted as telling the German Handelsblatt business daily in an interview.
"Do they really think they would win such a war very quickly? That s impossible, especially in the Arabic world. There everyone is fighting against everyone... everything is far more complicated. It could take years or decades."
"Why is that necessary?" he added, according to a pre-released excerpt from the daily s Friday edition. "All sides must be forced to the negotiating table instead of sparking a new world war."
