Only a political solution will end Syria's war, says Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC that there must be a political solution to ending the brutal civil war in Syria
A file photo of the leader of UK's Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn (AFP)
Published date: 27 September 2015 14:25 BST
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Last update: 8 years 7 months ago
Russia and other nations could get sucked into a proxy war in Syria if there was no political solution to the crisis, British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Sunday.
Speaking on the opening day of the main opposition Labour Party's annual conference in the seaside resort of Brighton, the newly-elected veteran socialist called for urgent action.
"Ultimately, there has to be a political solution. That's got to involve Iran and all the neighbouring countries," he told BBC television.
"The danger is we end up with a proxy war between Russia and others in Syria on top of an incredibly unpleasant, nasty civil war within Syria," he said.
Corbyn said the party would set out its stance on Monday.
France said on Sunday it had carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State extremists in Syria, on the eve of a UN gathering of world leaders where the war will be at the centre of the debate.
Corbyn also said he was "not a supporter" of President Vladimir Putin, who has rankled the West by strengthening Russia's military presence in Syria in recent weeks.
A 200/1 outsider, Corbyn was elected leader on 12 September 12 by a huge majority of Labour membership, after a campaign based on supporting social justice, anti-militarism, and opposing the Conservative government's austerity agenda.
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