Syrian pro-governmenrt protesters gather on the streets to welcome Russian Foreign Minister Sergei in Damascus, Syria, Feb. 7, 2012. Sergei Lavrov arrived in Damascus Tuesday along with Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Director Mikhail Fradkov for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the current situation in Syria. Thousands of Syrian government supporters gathered on the streets of Damascus to welcome Lavrov. (Xinhua/Qin Haishi)