Putin Warns of Long Civil War in Syria if Assad Ousted

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Monday of a protracted civil war in Syria should President Bashar Assad be "unconstitutionally" removed from power by rebel fighters.

"We are afraid that if the country's current leadership is removed from power unconstitutionally, then the opposition and today's leadership may simply change places," Russian news agencies quoted Putin as saying.

"One will become (the new) leadership and the other -- the opposition," Putin was quoted as saying after talks with visiting Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.

Putin warned that in that case "a civil war will stretch on for who knows how long".

"We do not want the situation to develop according to the bloody scenario of civil war and continue for no-one knows how many years as it happened in Afghanistan," Putinwas quoted as saying in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

He once again called on both sides in the 16-month conflict to sit down for talks that could help end fighting Syrian activists say has claimed more than 17,000 lives.

"The Syrian leadership as well as the opposition should find the strength and organize a negotiating process framing it in such a way that it would be possible to achieve an acceptable compromise on the country's future."

"Both the government and the opposition should cease violence and sit at the negotiating table and decide there how the country will live in the future.

Putin stressed that Syria's political future should not be decided on the battleground.

"I believe that the future of the country should be decided not on the basis of a military victory or defeat of one of the sides but on the basis of negotiations and compromise," Putin was quoted as saying.

The Russian leader's comments came as fighting raged in the main Syrian cities of Damascus and Aleppo on Monday.

Earlier this month Russia together with China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria for the third time in nine months, sparking outrage by the Western nations which demanded sanctions against the government of Moscow's Soviet-era ally.

The British text, backed by the United States, France, Germany and Portugal, threatened non-military sanctions under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter if Assad does not withdraw heavy weapons from Syrian cities.

Russia refused to accept sanctions or action under Chapter VII.

Monti on Monday said Italy understood Russia's concerns but also warned of the risks that could stem from Moscow's resistance.

"We understand Moscow's caution with regards to the possible adoption by the U.N. Security Council of Chapter VII of the Charter," Monti was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies, referring to the chapter of the U.N. charter that allows the use of force should it be deemed necessary.

"At the same time one needs to take into account the risk that is now being discussed within the United Nations -- that if the U.N. does not adopt a relevant resolution the situation can spin out of control."

Monti added Syria could benefit from the establishment of a transition government modeled after Lebanon's government following the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"The adoption of such a decision at the United Nations would be impossible without relevant support from Russia."