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British diplomat summoned by Russia over 'inaccurate' reports British diplomat summoned by Russia over 'missile' reports
(about 1 hour later)
Russia summoned Britain's defence attache in Moscow to explain reports that RAF pilots had been authorised to shoot down Russian aircraft in the Middle East, the Foreign Office says.Russia summoned Britain's defence attache in Moscow to explain reports that RAF pilots had been authorised to shoot down Russian aircraft in the Middle East, the Foreign Office says.
Newspapers said RAF Tornados in Iraq had been fitted with heat-seeking missiles designed for aerial combat.Newspapers said RAF Tornados in Iraq had been fitted with heat-seeking missiles designed for aerial combat.
The Foreign Office said the reports, over the weekend, had been inaccurate. But the Ministry of Defence said there was "absolutely no truth" in this.
The attache reiterated Britain's concerns about Russian military operations in Syria, a spokesman said. The Foreign Office said concern about Russian military action in Syria had been reiterated by the attache.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the military intervention was only helping to support "the butcher" President Bashar al-Assad. Prime Minister David Cameron has previously said Russian military intervention in Syria is helping only to support "the butcher", President Bashar al-Assad.
He has also expressed concerns that Russian forces were not discriminating between Islamic State militants and others fighting the Syrian president. He has also expressed concerns that Russian forces are not discriminating between air strikes on Islamic State militants and others fighting the Syrian president.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the defence attache had a meeting with the Russian ministry of defence on Sunday. A Foreign Office spokesman said the defence attache had met Russian ministry of defence officials on Sunday.
"The Russian government sought clarification over inaccurate newspaper reports concerning RAF rules of engagement in Iraq," the spokesman said."The Russian government sought clarification over inaccurate newspaper reports concerning RAF rules of engagement in Iraq," the spokesman said.
"The defence attache reiterated the British government's concerns about Russia's military operation in Syria, including targeting legitimate opposition groups, using unguided weaponry and leading to large numbers of civilian deaths.""The defence attache reiterated the British government's concerns about Russia's military operation in Syria, including targeting legitimate opposition groups, using unguided weaponry and leading to large numbers of civilian deaths."
Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended the military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Mr al-Assad.Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended the military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Mr al-Assad.
He denied that Russian air strikes were hitting moderate opposition groups rather than Islamic State militants.He denied that Russian air strikes were hitting moderate opposition groups rather than Islamic State militants.
Mr Putin told Russian state TV Moscow also wanted to "create conditions for a political compromise" in Syria. Mr Putin told Russian state TV that Moscow also wanted to "create conditions for a political compromise" in Syria.