This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37616333
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Russia's Putin halts France visit amid row | Syria conflict: Russia's Putin halts France visit amid row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia's President Vladimir Putin has cancelled a planned visit to France amid a row over Syria. | Russia's President Vladimir Putin has cancelled a planned visit to France amid a row over Syria. |
| He had been due to meet French President Francois Hollande and open a new Orthodox church later this month. | He had been due to meet French President Francois Hollande and open a new Orthodox church later this month. |
| But after France's government said talks would be confined to Syria the visit was halted, French presidential sources said. | But after France's government said talks would be confined to Syria the visit was halted, French presidential sources said. |
| On Monday, Mr Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria's city of Aleppo. | On Monday, Mr Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria's city of Aleppo. |
| The French presidency had told the Russians Mr Hollande would attend only one event with Mr Putin during the visit planned for 19 October - a working meeting on Syria, according to the sources. | |
| But after this Russia "let it be known that it wanted to postpone the visit", they added. | But after this Russia "let it be known that it wanted to postpone the visit", they added. |
| A Kremlin source cited on Russian state media confirmed the meeting would not go ahead. | A Kremlin source cited on Russian state media confirmed the meeting would not go ahead. |
| It comes a day after Mr Hollande told French TV prosecutions over Syria could take place in the International Criminal Court (ICC). | It comes a day after Mr Hollande told French TV prosecutions over Syria could take place in the International Criminal Court (ICC). |
| "These are people who today are the victims of war crimes. Those that commit these acts will have to face up to their responsibility, including in the ICC," he said. | "These are people who today are the victims of war crimes. Those that commit these acts will have to face up to their responsibility, including in the ICC," he said. |
| Neither Russia nor Syria is a member of the ICC. | Neither Russia nor Syria is a member of the ICC. |
| Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and says it targets terrorist groups in Syria. | Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and says it targets terrorist groups in Syria. |
| Last week Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in Aleppo. | Last week Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in Aleppo. |