RIA-Novosti and ITAR-Tass quoted Ammar Qurabi, head of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, as saying Friday that the opposition is prepared to talk with the government but that authorities have responded only with bloodletting.

The UN says 2,200 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March, inspired by the pro-democracy revolutions sweeping the Arab world.

Russia has resisted a draft UN Security Council resolution that would impose an arms embargo and other sanctions on Syria.

Mikhail Margelov, a Russian presidential envoy, is due to meet an adviser to Syrian President Bashar Assad next week as part of Moscow’s mediation efforts.