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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. |
But the Ministry of Defence said there was "absolutely no truth" in this. | |
The Foreign Office said concern about Russian military action in Syria had been reiterated by the attache. | |
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 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 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 that Moscow also wanted to "create conditions for a political compromise" in Syria. |