South African MPs said on Thursday that they fully support efforts by the government to ensure a peaceful solution to the Syria crisis. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation (PCIRC) said the South African government had informed MPs that it wanted the matter to be handled through negotiations on a settlement to the conflict.

The government has called for the Geneva 2 International peace conference to be initiated urgently and for a ceasefire in Syria, while condemning the killing of innocent people.

With the Syrian government having expressed its willingness to negotiate a peaceful solution, the committee believes that the rebels should do the same and go to negotiations, the PCIRC said.

"The Committee further calls on those supporting the rebels to push for a negotiated solution," said Tisetso Magama, committee chairperson.

"We believe negotiations are the only way out of this crisis and we condemn any suggestions of a military solution, The people of Syria and the Middle East have suffered for too long," said Magama.

He said the committee also backs the government's position on condemning the use of weapons of mass destruction or chemical weapons.

"The Committee also believes the Syrian conflict can be resolved through negotiations by Syrians themselves, supported by the international community," Magama said.

The committee is concerned about the pouring of arms into Syria, the aftermath of which could be catastrophic after the Syrian conflict as experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya in the recent past, the official warned.

"The Committee reiterates government's call of ensuring that all protagonists of the civil war participate in any peace initiative to find a lasting and durable solution," Magama said. Endi