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| US and Germany urge Russia not to arm Syria military | US and Germany urge Russia not to arm Syria military |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US and Germany have called on Russia not to supply Syria's military with an advanced missile system they say could prolong the conflict there. | The US and Germany have called on Russia not to supply Syria's military with an advanced missile system they say could prolong the conflict there. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said the delivery of Russian weaponry would have a "profoundly negative impact" and put Israel's security at risk. | US Secretary of State John Kerry said the delivery of Russian weaponry would have a "profoundly negative impact" and put Israel's security at risk. |
| German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle urged Moscow not to hinder the chances of mooted peace talks. | German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle urged Moscow not to hinder the chances of mooted peace talks. |
| The US and Russia are pushing for talks in Geneva aimed at ending the conflict. | The US and Russia are pushing for talks in Geneva aimed at ending the conflict. |
| Mr Kerry and Mr Westerwelle held talks in Washington the day after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a Russian contract to supply the S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system was being implemented, without confirming any deliveries. | Mr Kerry and Mr Westerwelle held talks in Washington the day after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a Russian contract to supply the S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system was being implemented, without confirming any deliveries. |
| The S-300 is a highly capable system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles. | The S-300 is a highly capable system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles. |
| Two Russian newspapers on Friday quoted defence sources as saying that it was unclear if any of the missile system would be delivered this year. | Two Russian newspapers on Friday quoted defence sources as saying that it was unclear if any of the missile system would be delivered this year. |
| 'Unified' government | |
| Mr Kerry called on Russia not to upset the balance in the region by providing weaponry to the Assad regime, "whether it's and old contract or not". | |
| "It has a profoundly negative impact on the balance of interests and the stability of the region and it does put Israel at risk," he said. | |
| "We hope that they will refrain from that in the interests of making this peace process work," he said. | |
| He added that he was convinced the Syrian opposition would take part in the Geneva talks, scheduled for next month: Russian and American officials are set to meet next week to prepare the ground for the peace conference. | |
| Earlier, Syria's opposition National Coalition ended marathon talks in Istanbul with a pledge to broaden its membership. | |
| It will expand its leadership council to include more representatives of the rebel Free Syrian Army and other activists, following widespread criticism that it was out of touch with events on the ground. | |
| Before the announcement, the US had called for a decision on a new leadership and an expanded membership to "move forward in planning the Geneva conference". | |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says a lot more needs to be done for the opposition to be in any kind of shape to attend any conference in a coherent manner. | |
| He says that, by contrast, the Syrian government appears unified and confident. | |
| Mr Assad said on Thursday that Syria would "in principle" attend the peace conference in Geneva if there were not unacceptable preconditions. | |
| In an interview with Lebanon's al-Manar TV, which is owned by Hezbollah, he warned that Syria would respond in kind to any future Israeli air strikes. | |
| More than 80,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million have fled Syria since the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011, according to UN estimates. | More than 80,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million have fled Syria since the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011, according to UN estimates. |
| How the Russian S-300PMU-1 missile defence system works |