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Assad in surprise visit to Moscow Assad in surprise visit to Moscow
(34 minutes later)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on an unannounced visit to Moscow.Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on an unannounced visit to Moscow.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Assad "came on a working visit to Moscow" on Tuesday evening and held talks with Mr Putin.Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Assad "came on a working visit to Moscow" on Tuesday evening and held talks with Mr Putin.
Russia began air strikes in Syria at the end of last month.Russia began air strikes in Syria at the end of last month.
Moscow says it is targeting Islamic State and other militant groups fighting Mr Assad's government.Moscow says it is targeting Islamic State and other militant groups fighting Mr Assad's government.
Mr Peskov told reporters that the two leaders discussed the fight against what he called terrorist groups, the continuation of Russian air strikes and Syria's plans for its troops. Mr Peskov told reporters that the two leaders had discussed the fight against what he called terrorist groups, the continuation of Russian air strikes and Syria's plans for its troops.
It is not clear if Mr Assad is still in Moscow or has returned to Damascus.It is not clear if Mr Assad is still in Moscow or has returned to Damascus.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. It was the first overseas visit made by Mr Assad since the civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Syrian state TV reports.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. In a transcript of comments by the two leaders, given out by the Kremlin, Mr Putin described Syria as a "friend" and said Russia was ready to contribute "not only to military action... but to the political process too" to bring peace to the country.
He said Russia was concerned that at least 4,000 citizens from the former Soviet Union were fighting with rebels groups in Syria. "We cannot permit them - once they get fighting experience and ideological training - to turn up in Russia".