Tunisian president advocates solution

Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki said Friday that he advocated a political solution for the crisis in Syria, the official TAP press agency reported. Marzouki made the remarks in an address delivered at the opening of the Friends of Syria Conference which is held in Tunis. The conference, attended by representatives of some 70 countries and regions, is expected to pave the way for humanitarian aid and to encourage the Syrian opposition to unit. Representatives from the Gulf countries attending the conference were said to be pressing for military involvement against the Syrian regime through arming Syrian rebels on the ground. Marzouki, however, opposed the arming of Syria's opposition, warning against the potential of a "civil war". The Tunisian president called on Syria's opposition to close ranks. Marzouki further called for the organization of an international conference to support the Syrian economy. Tunisia's Foreign Minister Rafik Abdesslem said that the conference will "send a strong message" to the Syrian leader to stop crimes in Syria. Meanwhile, Tunisian radio reported that the Saudi delegation has left the conference premises to protest against the lack of progress in the discussions.