CAIRO: Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili said that democracy was the only way out of the current Syrian conflict, “not weapons and bloodshed.” The top Iranian official was in Lebanon for meetings with Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on Monday, the Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported. “Those who think they can buy more security for themselves by sending weapons and terrorists to Syria are making a strategic mistake,” Jalili stressed, criticizing the move by certain states to create instability in Syria. “Friends of Syria can help the Syrian nation through full cessation of violence, organizing national dialogue, holding general elections and sending humanitarian aid,” he argued. Jalili, arrived to Beirut on Monday morning for an official visit to discuss bilateral, regional and international developments with senior Lebanese officials. He has, so far, held separate talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Since Syrians went to the streets calling for the end of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, over 16,000 people, mainly civilians have been killed in the daily violence meted out against the protesters by the government.
