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Syria conflict: Pressure grows on Russia over civilian bomb deaths | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pressure is increasing on Russia over civilian deaths in Syria, with France and the US urging greater caution. | |
French PM Manuel Valls and US Secretary of State John Kerry said civilians were dying in Russian air strikes. | |
Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said there was "no evidence of our bombing civilians, even though everyone is accusing us of this". | |
One observers' group says at least 1,015 civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes. | |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said late last month that close to a quarter of those killed were under the age of 18. | |
How Putin is succeeding in Syria | How Putin is succeeding in Syria |
Displaced Syrians struggle to survive | Displaced Syrians struggle to survive |
Syria: The story of the conflict | Syria: The story of the conflict |
Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has consistently denied hitting civilian targets and insists it is battling terrorists. | Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has consistently denied hitting civilian targets and insists it is battling terrorists. |
Mr Valls said his government "respects Russia and Russia's interests" but "that to re-discover the path to peace, to discussion, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop". | Mr Valls said his government "respects Russia and Russia's interests" but "that to re-discover the path to peace, to discussion, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop". |
Mr Kerry again accused Russia of using so-called 'dumb bombs' in Syria that do not hit precise targets. Last week, he said women and children were being killed "in large numbers" by Russian raids. | |
Mr Medvedev said Russia was "not trying to achieve some secret goals in Syria", adding that "we are trying to protect our national interests". | Mr Medvedev said Russia was "not trying to achieve some secret goals in Syria", adding that "we are trying to protect our national interests". |
Their comments were made at a security conference in Munich, days after world powers agreed a deal to push for a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week. | |
Agreement to try to bring about a cessation of hostilities and allow more access for humanitarian aid was reached by world powers late on Thursday in Germany, but neither the Syrian government nor the rebels were involved. | Agreement to try to bring about a cessation of hostilities and allow more access for humanitarian aid was reached by world powers late on Thursday in Germany, but neither the Syrian government nor the rebels were involved. |
Under the plan, efforts will be made to try to make urgent aid deliveries to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria. Steps will also be taken to work towards an eventual ceasefire and implementation of a UN-backed plan for political transition in Syria. | Under the plan, efforts will be made to try to make urgent aid deliveries to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria. Steps will also be taken to work towards an eventual ceasefire and implementation of a UN-backed plan for political transition in Syria. |
The halt will not apply to the battle against jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and al-Nusra Front. | The halt will not apply to the battle against jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and al-Nusra Front. |
Assad 'deluded' | Assad 'deluded' |
Rebel groups in Syria have told the BBC they would not stop fighting because they do not believe that Russia will end its bombing campaign in support of the government. | Rebel groups in Syria have told the BBC they would not stop fighting because they do not believe that Russia will end its bombing campaign in support of the government. |
They also reiterated their demand that President Assad be removed from power. On Friday, the president said he wanted to retake "the whole country" from rebels. | They also reiterated their demand that President Assad be removed from power. On Friday, the president said he wanted to retake "the whole country" from rebels. |
But US state department spokesman Mark Toner said Mr Assad was "deluded" if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict. | But US state department spokesman Mark Toner said Mr Assad was "deluded" if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict. |
Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have almost encircled rebels in parts of the northern city of Aleppo. | Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have almost encircled rebels in parts of the northern city of Aleppo. |
More than 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million displaced in almost five years of fighting in Syria. | More than 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million displaced in almost five years of fighting in Syria. |
On Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saudi Arabia would send war planes to the Turkish air base of Incirlik, from where they would attack militants in Syria from the so-called Islamic State. | On Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saudi Arabia would send war planes to the Turkish air base of Incirlik, from where they would attack militants in Syria from the so-called Islamic State. |
Saudi Arabia is already part of the international coalition against IS. | Saudi Arabia is already part of the international coalition against IS. |
Mr Cavusoglu also said it was possible that troops from his country and Saudi Arabia might participate in a ground operation against IS forces. The US has so far ruled out a ground invasion. | Mr Cavusoglu also said it was possible that troops from his country and Saudi Arabia might participate in a ground operation against IS forces. The US has so far ruled out a ground invasion. |
Moscow has warned against any new foreign ground intervention in the country, saying such a development could even lead to a world war. | Moscow has warned against any new foreign ground intervention in the country, saying such a development could even lead to a world war. |
Syria conflict - key questions | Syria conflict - key questions |
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 al-Nusra Front, 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 al-Nusra Front, 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. |
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. |