This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-calls-claims-it-has-killed-200-civilians-in-air-strikes-a-provocation-a6784206.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Russia calls claims it has killed 200 civilians in air strikes a 'provocation' Russia calls claims it has killed 200 civilians in air strikes a 'provocation'
(1 day later)
Russia has responded to an Amnesty International report claiming its air strikes killed at least 200 civilians in Syria, describing it as a "provocation".Russia has responded to an Amnesty International report claiming its air strikes killed at least 200 civilians in Syria, describing it as a "provocation".
The chair of Russia's Defence and Security Committee, Viktor Ozerov, denied any civilian deaths and said Moscow had nothing to hide from the international community regarding its role in Syria.The chair of Russia's Defence and Security Committee, Viktor Ozerov, denied any civilian deaths and said Moscow had nothing to hide from the international community regarding its role in Syria.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, he suggested it was easy for other countries to monitor Russian bombing and that if civilians were targeted, they would have already complained through the UN not "in a report".Speaking to RIA Novosti, he suggested it was easy for other countries to monitor Russian bombing and that if civilians were targeted, they would have already complained through the UN not "in a report".
"This is yet another provocation from someone who does not like the way we counter terrorism in Syria," Mr Ozerov said."This is yet another provocation from someone who does not like the way we counter terrorism in Syria," Mr Ozerov said.
Amnesty's 28-page report includes analyses of 25 suspected Russian air strikes in Syria since 30 September, and includes a range of interviews with people who witnessed the attacks.Amnesty's 28-page report includes analyses of 25 suspected Russian air strikes in Syria since 30 September, and includes a range of interviews with people who witnessed the attacks.
Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria
The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria
Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes
AP
Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria
Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps
Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed
A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit
A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria
Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria
It concluded that Russia has killed 16 civilians in Syria for every fighter successfully targeted, and said elements of Russia's campaign could amount to war crimes.It concluded that Russia has killed 16 civilians in Syria for every fighter successfully targeted, and said elements of Russia's campaign could amount to war crimes.
Speakinng to the Independent upon the release of its report, Amnesty said it had repeatedly put its evidence to Moscow officials beforehand but received no "substantive" response.Speakinng to the Independent upon the release of its report, Amnesty said it had repeatedly put its evidence to Moscow officials beforehand but received no "substantive" response.
And citing a number of incidents in which there was evidence Russia had given misleading statements in the aftermath of attacks, the organisation accused the Kremlin of "sleight of hand" when it came to collateral damage.And citing a number of incidents in which there was evidence Russia had given misleading statements in the aftermath of attacks, the organisation accused the Kremlin of "sleight of hand" when it came to collateral damage.
Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK's Syria campaign manager, said: "It increasingly looks as if Russia is trying to obscure the deadly truth over its Syrian bombing campaign.Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK's Syria campaign manager, said: "It increasingly looks as if Russia is trying to obscure the deadly truth over its Syrian bombing campaign.
"The Russian authorities need to stop pretending their attacks aren’t killing Syrian civilians and investigate the cases we’ve highlighted.”"The Russian authorities need to stop pretending their attacks aren’t killing Syrian civilians and investigate the cases we’ve highlighted.”
"It’s not even that Russian bombing is targeting so called 'moderate’ opposition forces rather than Islamic State fighters; they’re bringing death from the air for Syria’s beleaguered civilian population as well," he said."It’s not even that Russian bombing is targeting so called 'moderate’ opposition forces rather than Islamic State fighters; they’re bringing death from the air for Syria’s beleaguered civilian population as well," he said.