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Syria crisis: US attacks Moscow welcome for Assad | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The White House has strongly condemned a visit to Moscow by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | |
A spokesman criticised Russia for putting on a "red carpet welcome". | |
The Syrian leader's trip on Tuesday came three weeks after Russia began air strikes in Syria against Islamic State militants and other forces. | |
It was Mr Assad's first overseas trip since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011. The conflict has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives. | |
While in Moscow, Mr Assad made a point of expressing his gratitude for Russia's military intervention in the conflict. | |
He said Russia's involvement had stopped "terrorism" becoming "more widespread and harmful" in Syria. | |
For his part, Mr Putin said Moscow's hope was that a "long-term resolution can be achieved on the basis of a political process with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups". | |
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that by hosting the Syrian leader, President Putin was sending a clear message to the West - that Moscow is a key player in the Middle East, and that there can be no solution to the Syrian conflict without Russia's involvement. | |
'Emboldening' | |
"We view the red carpet welcome for Assad, who has used chemical weapons against his own people, at odds with the stated goal by the Russians for a political transition in Syria," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters. | |
A state department official said it was not surprised by the visit, but the main US concern was Russia's continued military support, which he said had emboldened the Assad government - something that would only serve to lengthen the civil war. | |
In the wake of Mr Assad's surprise visit, President Putin spoke to a number of Middle Eastern leaders to brief them. | |
They included the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which give support to Syrian rebels. | |
Mr Putin also spoke to Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, Russian news agencies said. | |
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that after the visit "the Syrian government has no legitimacy left". | |
Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus | Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus |
President Assad's surprise visit to Moscow represents a sign of growing confidence for the embattled Syrian President. | President Assad's surprise visit to Moscow represents a sign of growing confidence for the embattled Syrian President. |
Firstly he feels it safe to leave Damascus for the first time since the civil war in Syria erupted. It is also a visible symbol of Russia's confidence in the current Syrian regime. | Firstly he feels it safe to leave Damascus for the first time since the civil war in Syria erupted. It is also a visible symbol of Russia's confidence in the current Syrian regime. |
The visit leaves little doubt that for now at least President Putin is intent on shoring up Mr Assad's position. | The visit leaves little doubt that for now at least President Putin is intent on shoring up Mr Assad's position. |
But the trip may also mark a new stage in Russia's efforts to roll out a diplomatic plan alongside its military intervention in Syria. Mr Putin has been speaking to other regional players: the Turks; the Saudis; the Jordanians and the Egyptians. | But the trip may also mark a new stage in Russia's efforts to roll out a diplomatic plan alongside its military intervention in Syria. Mr Putin has been speaking to other regional players: the Turks; the Saudis; the Jordanians and the Egyptians. |
There's a simple message here. The road to any diplomatic settlement now runs through Moscow and, for now at least, Mr Assad has to be part of any interim solution. | There's a simple message here. The road to any diplomatic settlement now runs through Moscow and, for now at least, Mr Assad has to be part of any interim solution. |
Russia launched air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying they were hitting IS positions - which are also being targeted by US-led strikes. | Russia launched air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying they were hitting IS positions - which are also being targeted by US-led strikes. |
Western countries and Syrian activists say Russian planes have been focused on hitting non-IS targets in order to shore up the position of the Syrian army, a claim Moscow denies. | Western countries and Syrian activists say Russian planes have been focused on hitting non-IS targets in order to shore up the position of the Syrian army, a claim Moscow denies. |
Why is there a war in Syria? | Why is there a war in Syria? |
Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. | Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. |
Who is fighting whom? | Who is fighting whom? |
Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. | Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. |
What's the human cost? | What's the human cost? |
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. |
How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. | Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. |