Russia denies changing its stance on Syria

Moscow - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected British Prime Minister David Cameron's recent comments saying Russia has changed its stance on Syria.

Lavrov told Echo Moskvy radio Thursday that the comments were "inappropriate for a politician at such a high level."

Cameron, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, told reporters Tuesday that "it is welcome that President Putin has been explicit that he does not want Assad remaining in charge in Syria," media reports said.

But Lavrov said leaders "should not interpret the content of their conversations this way".

Moscow supports possible negotiations between the conflicting parties at an international meeting on Syria but opposes imposition of a settlement from outside, he said.

Both -- the opposition and the Syrian government -- must act to salvage the plan brokered by UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan, Lavrov said.

Implementation of the Annan plan should be under the supervision of UN observers, whose number can be increased if necessary, he added.

An international conference on Syria to be held in Geneva June 30 was announced Thursday.

According to UN estimates, about 12,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of a popular uprising against President Bashar Al Assad in March 2011.