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| Syria crisis: US plans Russia military talks, Kerry says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US is seeking military talks with Russia on Syria, and hopes they could take place "very shortly", Secretary of State John Kerry has said. | The US is seeking military talks with Russia on Syria, and hopes they could take place "very shortly", Secretary of State John Kerry has said. |
| The US and Russia differ sharply on Syria, and Washington has been concerned about Russia's increased military presence there. | |
| "We're looking for ways in which to find a common ground," said Mr Kerry. | "We're looking for ways in which to find a common ground," said Mr Kerry. |
| Moscow has meanwhile said that any request from Syria to send troops would be "discussed and considered". | Moscow has meanwhile said that any request from Syria to send troops would be "discussed and considered". |
| "But it is difficult to talk about this hypothetically," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added. | "But it is difficult to talk about this hypothetically," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added. |
| Arriving in London for talks with the UAE, Mr Kerry told reporters: "The president believes that military-to-military conversation is an important next step and hopefully will take place very shortly." | Arriving in London for talks with the UAE, Mr Kerry told reporters: "The president believes that military-to-military conversation is an important next step and hopefully will take place very shortly." |
| Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent | |
| The growing Russian military presence in Syria, not least the deployment of surface-to-air missiles to defend the airfield at Latakia, means Washington and Moscow have a lot to talk about. | |
| The US and a number of its allies are flying strike missions into Syrian air space and they don't want to have any misunderstandings with Russia's forces there. | |
| The Americans will also hope to obtain a clearer idea as to the purpose of the Russian presence in Latakia. | |
| Is this simply to secure a bridge-head to re-supply Mr Assad? Or does it herald a Russian intervention in the fighting? | |
| Russia's foreign ministry offered such talks earlier in this week. | Russia's foreign ministry offered such talks earlier in this week. |
| A spokeswoman said on Friday: "We have never refused dialogue with the United States. (We) are open to it now on all matters of mutual interest, including Syria," according to Reuters. | A spokeswoman said on Friday: "We have never refused dialogue with the United States. (We) are open to it now on all matters of mutual interest, including Syria," according to Reuters. |
| The two sides have long disagreed over Syria. Russia has been an ally of the Syrian government throughout the four-year civil war, while the US sees President Assad's removal as essential to resolving the crisis. | |
| Moscow has increased its presence in the country just as the regime is losing ground to rebel groups. Russia says it is helping Syria fight Islamic State militants. | |
| US officials accuse Russia of attempting to establish an air base at Latakia, raising the possibility of air combat missions. | |
| In a separate development, a Russian human rights body said it has been contacted by Russian soldiers who fear being sent to fight in Syria. | |
| Any secret deployment of troops to Syria would be illegal, said Sergei Krivenko of the Russian Human Rights Council. |