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Russia and US to hold Syria talks in Moscow | Russia and US to hold Syria talks in Moscow |
(31 minutes later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin is to hold talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Moscow to discuss the crisis in Syria. | |
Mr Kerry's visit comes after Israel launched two air strikes in southern Syria, which sources say targeted weapons bound for militants in Lebanon. | Mr Kerry's visit comes after Israel launched two air strikes in southern Syria, which sources say targeted weapons bound for militants in Lebanon. |
Russia condemned the attacks as threatening regional stability. | Russia condemned the attacks as threatening regional stability. |
President Putin had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kremlin said. | President Putin had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kremlin said. |
Ahead of Mr Kerry's visit, Russia's foreign ministry called on the West to stop politicising the issue of chemical weapons in Syria, BBC Moscow correspondent Steven Rosenberg reports. | Ahead of Mr Kerry's visit, Russia's foreign ministry called on the West to stop politicising the issue of chemical weapons in Syria, BBC Moscow correspondent Steven Rosenberg reports. |
It expressed concern that world public opinion was being prepared for possible military intervention, he adds. | It expressed concern that world public opinion was being prepared for possible military intervention, he adds. |
The United Nations has played down claims by one of its experts that there was evidence rebels had used nerve gas. | The United Nations has played down claims by one of its experts that there was evidence rebels had used nerve gas. |
Investigator Carla Del Ponte earlier said testimony from victims and doctors had given rise to "strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof" that opposition forces had used sarin. | Investigator Carla Del Ponte earlier said testimony from victims and doctors had given rise to "strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof" that opposition forces had used sarin. |
But the Commission of Inquiry on Syria stressed on Monday it had not reached any "conclusive findings". | But the Commission of Inquiry on Syria stressed on Monday it had not reached any "conclusive findings". |
The colourless, odourless gas is classed as a weapon of mass destruction and is banned under international law. | The colourless, odourless gas is classed as a weapon of mass destruction and is banned under international law. |
In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said it was "highly likely" that any use of chemical weapons that had taken place had been carried out by government forces. | In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said it was "highly likely" that any use of chemical weapons that had taken place had been carried out by government forces. |
Both the US and Israel have described the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict as a "game-changer", which could trigger international military intervention. | Both the US and Israel have described the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict as a "game-changer", which could trigger international military intervention. |
'Particular alarm' | 'Particular alarm' |
Correspondents say it is unlikely that Mr Kerry will be able to change President Putin's stance on Syria. | Correspondents say it is unlikely that Mr Kerry will be able to change President Putin's stance on Syria. |
Moscow genuinely fears that a bad situation will get even worse if President Bashar al-Assad is pushed from power, and that Islamists will fill the void, the BBC's Steven Rosenberg, in Moscow, reports. | Moscow genuinely fears that a bad situation will get even worse if President Bashar al-Assad is pushed from power, and that Islamists will fill the void, the BBC's Steven Rosenberg, in Moscow, reports. |
Officials said Israel's air strikes on Syrian army bases at the weekend had "caused particular alarm". | Officials said Israel's air strikes on Syrian army bases at the weekend had "caused particular alarm". |
Unconfirmed reports from activists said as many as 42 soldiers had been killed in the attacks near Damascus. | Unconfirmed reports from activists said as many as 42 soldiers had been killed in the attacks near Damascus. |
"The further escalation of armed confrontation sharply increases the risk of creating new areas of tension and the destabilisation of the so-far relatively calm atmosphere on the Lebanese-Israeli border," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. | "The further escalation of armed confrontation sharply increases the risk of creating new areas of tension and the destabilisation of the so-far relatively calm atmosphere on the Lebanese-Israeli border," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. |
Israeli security sources said attacks on targets in southern Syria on Sunday were aimed at preventing the transfer of advanced Iranian-made missiles to the Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, in neighbouring Lebanon. | Israeli security sources said attacks on targets in southern Syria on Sunday were aimed at preventing the transfer of advanced Iranian-made missiles to the Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah, in neighbouring Lebanon. |
But observers say the latest developments indicate a significant escalation in Israel's involvement in the conflict. | But observers say the latest developments indicate a significant escalation in Israel's involvement in the conflict. |
The Syrian government called the attacks a "flagrant violation of international law", which had made the Middle East "more dangerous" and opened "the door wide to all possibilities". | |
After his visit to Russia, Mr Kerry will travel to Rome to meet with with Italian, Israeli and Jordanian officials to discuss Middle East issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. | After his visit to Russia, Mr Kerry will travel to Rome to meet with with Italian, Israeli and Jordanian officials to discuss Middle East issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. |