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| Russian navy ships 'to set sail for Syria' | Russian navy ships 'to set sail for Syria' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two Russian naval ships are completing preparations to sail to Syria with a unit of marines, on a mission to protect Russian citizens and the nation's base there, according to a news report. | |
| The deployment appears to reflect Moscow's growing concern about the future of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. | The deployment appears to reflect Moscow's growing concern about the future of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad. |
| The Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified Russian navy official as saying two amphibious landing vessels, Nikolai Filchenkov and Caesar Kunikov, would be heading shortly to the Syrian port of Tartus, but gave no precise date. | The Interfax news agency quoted an unidentified Russian navy official as saying two amphibious landing vessels, Nikolai Filchenkov and Caesar Kunikov, would be heading shortly to the Syrian port of Tartus, but gave no precise date. |
| The official said the ships would carry an unspecified number of marines to protect Russians in Syria and evacuate some equipment from Tartus if necessary. | The official said the ships would carry an unspecified number of marines to protect Russians in Syria and evacuate some equipment from Tartus if necessary. |
| Interfax said each of the ships was capable of carrying 150 marines and a dozen tanks. It quoted a deputy Russian air force chief as saying Russia would give the necessary protection to its citizens in Syria. | Interfax said each of the ships was capable of carrying 150 marines and a dozen tanks. It quoted a deputy Russian air force chief as saying Russia would give the necessary protection to its citizens in Syria. |
| "We must protect our citizens," Major-General Vladimir Gradusov told Interfax. "We won't abandon the Russians and [we will] evacuate them from the conflict zone if necessary." | "We must protect our citizens," Major-General Vladimir Gradusov told Interfax. "We won't abandon the Russians and [we will] evacuate them from the conflict zone if necessary." |
| Asked whether the air force would provide air support for the navy squadron, Gradusov said they would act on orders. The defence ministry had no immediate comment, and an official at the Russian Black Sea fleet declined to comment. | Asked whether the air force would provide air support for the navy squadron, Gradusov said they would act on orders. The defence ministry had no immediate comment, and an official at the Russian Black Sea fleet declined to comment. |
| Tartus is Russia's only naval base outside the former Soviet Union. It serves Russian navy ships on missions to the Mediterranean, and hosts an unspecified number of military personnel. | Tartus is Russia's only naval base outside the former Soviet Union. It serves Russian navy ships on missions to the Mediterranean, and hosts an unspecified number of military personnel. |
| Russia also has an unspecified number of military advisers teaching Syrians how to use Russian weapons, which make up the bulk of Syrian arsenals. | Russia also has an unspecified number of military advisers teaching Syrians how to use Russian weapons, which make up the bulk of Syrian arsenals. |
| Syria is Moscow's last remaining ally in the Middle East, and has been a major customer of the Soviet and Russian weapons industries for the last four decades, acquiring billions of pounds worth of combat jets, helicopters, missiles, armoured vehicles and other military gear. | |
| Russia has shielded Assad's regime from international sanctions over its violent crackdown on protests. Moscow has continued to provide Syria with arms despite western calls for a halt in supplies. | Russia has shielded Assad's regime from international sanctions over its violent crackdown on protests. Moscow has continued to provide Syria with arms despite western calls for a halt in supplies. |
| Opposition groups say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests against Assad's autocratic regime. But a ferocious government crackdown led many to take up arms, and the conflict is now an armed insurgency. | Opposition groups say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests against Assad's autocratic regime. But a ferocious government crackdown led many to take up arms, and the conflict is now an armed insurgency. |
| Russia has criticised Assad for slow reforms and heavy-handed use of force, but has strongly opposed any sanctions or foreign interference in Syrian affairs. | Russia has criticised Assad for slow reforms and heavy-handed use of force, but has strongly opposed any sanctions or foreign interference in Syrian affairs. |