Syrian National Council Demands 'Safe Havens'

Syria's main opposition group on Wednesday urged the international community to create "safe havens" in the country and called on Russia to force the regime to allow access for humanitarian convoys.

At a news conference in Paris, the Syrian National Council said it would attend a summit of the countries known as the "Friends of Syria" and ask for safe zones to protect civilians and allow the opposition to organize.

SNC spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani unveiled a statement to be given to Friday's meeting, demanding "international assistance to respond to facts on the ground, specifically humanitarian assistance and a safe haven inside Syria."

"We seek immediate supply of humanitarian assistance to the most affected areas by creating safe passages for humanitarian convoys," it said.

"Safe passages can be guaranteed by a commitment from Russia to force the regime to respect safe access for convoys, thus reducing the need to militarize the passages," the statement said.

Russia is a traditional ally of Bashar Assad's regime in Syria and, with China, last month vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution to sanction Damascus for its brutal crackdown on a year-old popular revolt.