Russia calls situation in Syria "emergency"

MOSCOW - Russia changed the status of situation in Syria from "complicated" to "emergency" on Tuesday as the crisis in the violence-torn country escalates.

The order, signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on the government's website, has removed Syria, as well as Central African Republic and Sri Lanka from the list of "countries with complicated situations" and added India and Kenya to it.

Syria now is categorized as countries "in a state of emergency or armed conflict."

The change means Russia officially recognized that Syria has plunged into in an armed conflict.

The last time Russian government has changed that list was on June 3. The list is designed to evaluate the risks and provide security suggestions to Russian diplomats working in foreign countries.

Military confrontation in Syria is intensified as both the government troops and the armed opposition are entering into pitched battles in pivotal spots, prompting other countries to withdraw their diplomats.

Last week, the European Union slapped new sanctions against Damascus, tightening an arms embargo by inspecting all the ships and planes suspected of carrying arms heading toward Syria.

Russia refused to apply the sanctions, citing violation of principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.